Several recent videos have gone viral on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok urging people to avoid eating packaged shredded cheese, claiming that the powdery substance sprinkled on cheese to keep it from curdling is actually “wood shavings,” “bark” or “sawdust.”
In the comments sections of these videos, many viewers have expressed alarm at these claims, even going so far as to say they will never buy shredded cheese again — but what do nutritionists think?
“These videos stir up fears among viewers who are already skeptical of the food system and don’t know who to trust,” registered dietitian Christina Cook told TODAY.com. “When the information isn’t coming from a scientifically sound, credible source, it’s like playing an unruly game of telephone.”
The most important thing to know about this claim is that both preshred and blocking Cheese is good for your health Experts say it’s safe to eat. Read on to learn more about the substance in shredded cheese called powdered cellulose and what it’s used for.
What is that powdery substance on top of the shredded cheese?
The powdery or granular substance that coats packaged shredded cheese is an organic structural compound called cellulose (sometimes called cellulose gum, carboxymethylcellulose, or microcrystalline cellulose). As a food additive, it keeps the cheese from clumping inside the package.
“It’s also used in some products as a calorie-reducing, anti-caking, thickening or texturizing agent,” Caroline Susie, R.D., national spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, told TODAY.com. The compound also absorbs excess moisture, which can help prevent mold growth and extend the shelf life of some products.
Cellulose used as a food additive is usually made from wood pulp or cotton. According to the Center for Science in the Public Interestan independent food and health watchdog.
“The edible cellulose used in food is extracted and removed from the non-edible parts,” Cook explains. “Molecularly, it’s the same cellulose that’s present in virtually all plants.”
In fact, cellulose is naturally present in varying amounts in all plants because it has the important function of giving plant cells the rigidity they need to maintain their shape. Plant-based foods.
CSPI has rated cellulose as safe for consumption.
What foods contain cellulose?
In addition to shredded cheese, cellulose may be added to the following:
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bread
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Ice cream and other frozen desserts
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Pancake syrup, condiments, sauces
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Granola Bars
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Yogurt
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Dried spices
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Processed meats
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Meal Replacement Shakes
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Fiber supplements
Cellulose is found naturally in fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, lentils, nuts and seeds.
“Celery is particularly high in cellulose,” Amy Goodson, RD, nutritionist and registered dietitian for The Sports Nutrition Playbook, tells TODAY.com. “If you’ve ever had a stringy piece of celery stuck between your teeth, you’ve experienced cellulose firsthand.”
Is it dangerous to ingest cellulose?
In either its natural or additive form, cellulose isGenerally recognized as safe “This product is FDA GRAS (certified organic),” says Jen Messer, R.D., president of the New Hampshire Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. “If it wasn’t, it wouldn’t be approved by the FDA and wouldn’t be allowed in literally thousands of products sold in grocery stores across the country,” Messer says.
Humans don’t have the enzymes to break down cellulose, so it passes through the digestive system without being absorbed, Messer said. Cellulose is a fiber, but the amount added to shredded cheese is “very small and doesn’t contribute significantly to your daily fiber intake,” he said.
However, when consumed in large amounts, natural cellulose plays an important role in digestive health, promoting regular bowel movements, and may also help improve cholesterol and blood sugar levels, as well as increase satiety (feeling of fullness), making it a popular addition to meal replacement shakes.
So, is it better to buy block cheese or shredded cheese?
Experts say there is no difference in the health benefits of either type of cheese.
“Both options contain the nutritional benefits of cheese, including calcium, protein, vitamin B12, selenium, niacin, riboflavin and iodine,” Goodson says.
Other experts agree, telling TODAY.com that the only differences between block cheese and shredded cheese to consider are cost, convenience and taste.
For example, the additives and preservatives used in shredded cheese “can slightly affect the flavor and make it seem less fresh to some people than freshly grated cheese,” Goodson says.
It’s also typically more expensive per ounce than block cheese, and Messer points out that freshly grated cheese “may melt more smoothly than pre-shredded cheese.”
On the other hand, packaged shredded cheese has the advantage that it is less likely to go moldy than a block of cheese and therefore lasts longer in the fridge because it has less moisture overall. It also takes up less space and doesn’t require cumbersome kitchen tools like a cheese grater.
“Purchasing pre-shredded cheese is convenient because it saves you time and effort in both meal prep and cleanup,” Messer says.
Cook agrees: “If time, space, effort, or extra dishes are getting in the way of eating foods that might be healthy for you, make your life easier by buying shredded cheese. But if you want the satisfaction of making a big meal for yourself, buy a block of cheese instead.”
This article was originally published on TODAY.com
