Processed cheese

Processed cheese, process cheese, cheese slice, prepared cheese, cheese singles or cheese food is a food product made from normal cheese and sometimes other dairy ingredients, plus s, extra, , or whey. Many flavors, colors, and textures of processed cheese exist.

In the, the most recognizable variety of processed cheese is sold under the name American cheese, although this name also has other meanings. The name American cheese also has a legal definition as a type of pasteurized processed cheese under the U.S..

Although processed cheese was first invented in 1911 by of, , it was  who first applied for an American patent for his method in 1916. also created the first commercially available sliced processed cheese, which was introduced in 1950. This form of sliced cheese and its derivatives have become commonplace in the United States, most notably used for and. is an example of European processed cheese.

Advantages
Processed cheese has several technical advantages over unprocessed cheese, including extended, resistance to separation when cooked, and uniformity of product. Its production also enjoys significant economic advantages over traditional cheesemaking processes, most often through the ability to incorporate any of a wide variety of less expensive ingredients.

The use of emulsifiers in processed cheese results in cheese that melts smoothly when cooked. With prolonged heating, unprocessed cheese will separate into a molten gel and liquid ; processed cheese will not separate in this manner. The emulsifiers, typically, , , or , reduce the tendency for tiny fat globules in the cheese to coalesce and pool on the surface of the molten cheese.

Because processed cheese does not separate when melted, it is used as an ingredient in a variety of dishes. It is a popular addition to, as it does not run off, nor does it change in texture or taste as it is heated.

Disadvantages
Processed cheese is often criticized for its possible health effects (associated with chemical, /flavors, and ), inferior taste, and small range of flavors, which is far narrower than the range for unprocessed cheeses and normally very mild.

Sale and labeling
Processed cheese is often sold in blocks, spray cans, or packed in individual slices, sometimes with plastic wrappers or wax paper separating them.

Legal definitions
Due to the processing and, some softer varieties cannot legally be labeled as "cheese" in many countries, including the and , and so are sold as "cheese food", "", or "cheese product", depending primarily on the amount of cheese, moisture, and  present in the final product.

In the, processed cheese is defined, categorized, and regulated by the  under the U.S.  Title 21 (Food and Drugs), Section 133 (Cheeses and Cheese Related Products). Pasteurized process cheese can be made from a single cheese or a blend of several cheeses. , milkfat,, , , and may also be added. The mixture is heated with an emulsifier, poured into a mold, and allowed to cool. The definitions include:


 * Pasteurized process cheese, which is made from one or more cheeses (excluding certain cheeses such as and  but including ), and which may contain one or more specified "optional ingredients" (includes both dairy and nondairy items).  Moisture and fat content percentage requirements vary according to standards for constituent cheeses, but in most cases fat content must be >47%.
 * Pasteurized process cheese food, which is made from not less than 51% by final weight of one or more "optional cheese ingredients" (similar to the cheeses available for Pasteurized process cheese) mixed with one or more "optional dairy ingredients" (milk, whey, etc.), and which may contain one or more specified "optional ingredients" (nondairy). Moisture must be <44%, and fat content >23%.
 * Pasteurized process cheese spread, which is made similarly to Pasteurized process cheese food but must be spreadable at 70° F. Moisture must be between 44% and 60%, and fat content >20%.

The US Food & Drug Administration does not maintain a standard of identity for "Pasteurized Prepared Cheese Product", a designation which particularly appears on many popular Kraft products (as well as some others). Neither does the FDA maintain a standard of identity for "Pasteurized Process Cheese Product" (emphasis on the trailing "Product"), a designation which appears particularly on many American store- and generic-branded singles. Products labeled as such may therefore use (MPC) in the formulation, an ingredient which does not appear in the above FDA definitions. The desire to use inexpensive imported milk protein concentrate is noted as motivation for the introduction of these and similar terms, and for the relabeling of some products. After an protesting Kraft's use of MPC in late 2002, some varieties of  formerly labeled "Pasteurized Process Cheese Food" became "Pasteurized Prepared Cheese Product",  went from "Pasteurized Process Cheese Spread" to "Pasteurized Prepared Cheese Product", and  went from "Pasteurized Process Cheese Spread" to "Pasteurized Cheese Snack".

American cheese
The best known processed cheese in the is marketed as American cheese by, , and other companies. It is orange, yellow, or white in color and mild in flavor, with a medium-firm consistency, and melts easily. It is typically made from a blend of cheeses, most often Colby and Cheddar.