what do you think of imitation/processed shredded cheese?

Question

i made some chicken chili today(yum!) and i had bought some shredded cheese to go with it--i was in a hurry, so i grabbed what i thought was REAL shredded cheddar. but this morning i saw the package said in small letters "processed imitation cheese". YUCK. needless to say it tasted like...formed plastic cheese bits. sooo not like good real cheddar cheese.
does anyone actually like that stuff?

ok, a few more things..why do they make it, if it's not real cheese...and shouldn't it say in larger letters that it isn't real? i guess next time i should just take my time--or buy a block of cheese. ;-)

Answer 1

Isn't there a difference between imitation and processed cheese?

Velveeta is four kinds of cheese with milk and gelatin added to let it melt smoothly. So I think of it as a cheese sauce already made.

Imitation cheese, though, is made from vegetable oil, hydrogenated to hold the ingredients in suspension. The aim was to get away from the saturated fat in milk, so that people who like cheese would not get clogged arteries.

The truth of the matter, though, is that hydrogenated oils are as hazardous, or even more hazardous than animal saturated fats, if they contain trans fats.

Trans fats, as I understand, are indigestible, in that the digestive enzymes responsible for breaking down fats cannot latch onto trans fats, because of the altered chemical structure.

Our bodies react to Trans fats as it would a poison like arsenic, by depositing bits of it somewhere in the body where it can no longer react and cause trouble. Arsenic is deposited in hair and fingernails, and is slowly taken away when nails and hair is cut off.

But trans fats are deposited in between the layers of the vascular system, especially arteries, and become a hard wax-like lump. It's been forty or fifty years since it was discovered that saturated fats cause arteriosclorosis, and doctors began advising patients to avoid solid fats like butter and lard.

Unfortunately, bakers know that pastries must have solid fat to form properly tender and light confections. Since lard was taboo, some entrepreneuer though up hydrogenated oil. And it became a million seller! Margarine, Crisco!

now we know the partially hydrogenated or fully hydrogenated oils are as bad or worse that the saturated animal fats we were to avoid.

Personally, I use real cheese, and stay away from artificial anything as much as I can.

Answer 2

The only imitation/processed cheese I can think of is Velveeta, but I've never seen it shredded

I prefer natural cheese in most of my recipes anyway. The only time I would add imitation/processed cheese is to make a cheese salsa or something similar.

Answer 3

That is why they call it "cheese food", i like Velveeta melted for jumbo hot pretzels and mac and cheese, yummy. But otherwise only the real stuff for cooking and crackers. Hydrogenated oils are not Trans fat free, they are the reason for trans fat. The biggest drawback on any processed foods.

Answer 4

it is puke see what I found out
Schreiber Imitation American Cheese Slices
Nutrient Content (19 gm slice):
Phenylalanine (mg) 38
Protein (gm) 0.8
Calories (Kcal) 50
Ingredients:
Water, Modified Food Starch, Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Maltodextrin, Whey, Sodium Caseinate, Salt, Enzyme-Modified Cheese* (Cultured Milk, Water, Salt, Sodium Phosphate, Cream, Sodium Citrate, Enzymes, Sorbic Acid (Preservative), Artificial Color), Guar Gum, Sodium Hexametaphosphate, Sorbic Acid (Preservative), Artificial Color, Lactic Acid.
Label:
The label should include this nutrient information for 1 slice (19 gm) of cheese: calories 50, calories from fat 25, totol fat 3 g, sat. fat 0.5 g, polyunsat. fat 0 g, nonounsat. fat 2 g, cholesterol 0 mg, sodium 230 mg, total carbohydrates. 6g, fiber 0 g, sugars 1 g, protein 1 g
UPC Code: #30900 11171 (yellow cheese) or #30900 11173 (white cheese)
Schreiber Shredded Imitation Cheddar Cheese (2 lb. reclosable bag)
Nutrient Content (1 oz. or 28 gm):
Phenylalanine (mg) 20
Protein (gm) 0.4
Calories (Kcal) 77
Ingredients:
Water, modified food starch, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, whey, maltodextrin, corn syrup, salt, powdered cellulose added to prevent caking, guar gum, locust bean gum, carrageenan, sodium hexametaphosphate, enzyme-modified cheese (cultured milk, skim milk, water, cream, salt, sodium citrate, sodium phosphate, sorbic acid [preservative], lactic acid, citric acid, acetic acid, artificial color, enzymes), sorbic acid (preservative), artificial color, artificial flavor.
Label:
The label should include this nutrient information for 1/3 cup (30 gm): calories 80, calories from fat 40, total fat 4.4 g, saturated fat 1 g, cholesterol 0, sodium 270 mg, total carbohydrate 9 g, dietary fiber 0 g, sugars 3 g, protein 0 g.
UPC Code: #30900 09996

Answer 5

they make it for people like me who can't eat dairy. you're right it's disgusting so i avoid it at all costs.

Answer 6

nope

Answer 7

Not me, it is loaded with junk.