Randy Chandler
Follow Your Heart Cheese is a vegan cheese alternative that comes in 7 flavours and is dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free, nut-free, and soy-free. The product is sold in block and slice formats and is available at major grocers throughout the U.S. and the United Kingdom. The cheese is made from ingredients including filtered water, coconut oil, modified food starch, and potato starch. While the product has received some positive reviews, there has been criticism of a 'new and improved' recipe, with some customers complaining about the texture and taste.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type | Vegan cheese, dairy-free/non-dairy, egg-free, gluten-free, grain-free, nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free, vegetarian |
| Flavors | Mozzarella, Provolone, Garden Herb, Cheddar, Blue Cheese, Feta Cheese Crumbles, Shredded Cheddar, American Slices, Smoked Gouda |
| Available in | Blocks, slices |
| Sold at | Albertsons/Safeway, Walmart, Sprouts, Tesco, Ocado, Sainsbury’s, Holland & Barrett, Whole Foods Market |
| Certifications | Certified Kosher Pareve |
| Price | $4.99 for 7-ounce slices |
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What You'll Learn
Ingredients
Follow Your Heart Cheese Alternative is a vegan, gluten-free, nut-free, and soy-free cheese alternative. It comes in 7-ounce packets of 12 slices, and is available in 7 flavours. The product is dairy-free, egg-free, grain-free, peanut-free, and vegetarian.
The ingredients for the American Style Slices are:
- Filtered water
- Coconut oil
- Modified food starch
- Potato starch
- Sea salt
- Natural flavour (plant sources)
- Olive extract
- Paprika extract
- Beta carotene for colour
The ingredients for the Dairy-Free American-Style Slices are:
- Water
- Modified food starch
- Coconut oil
- High oleic sunflower oil
- Calcium citrate
- Sea salt
- Potato protein
- Natural flavours
- Tapioca maltodextrin
- Yeast extract
- Lactic acid
- Paprika extract
- Beta carotene for colour
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Flavours
Follow Your Heart offers a wide range of flavours for their dairy-free cheese alternatives. The brand's cheese slices come in various flavours, including Mozzarella, Provolone, Cheddar, Smoked Gouda, Swiss, and American. The Provolone flavour, inspired by the Italian classic, is known for its creamy taste and texture. The American flavour is designed to be mild and creamy, catering to children's taste preferences. The brand also offers dairy-free shreds, which are available in Cheddar flavour and can be used for making vegan mac and cheese, nacho cheese, and cheese dips.
In addition to their dairy-free cheese, Follow Your Heart also produces a line of cheese alternatives called Vegan Gourmet, which contains soy, distinguishing it from their dairy-free, soy-free line. The Vegan Gourmet line includes flavours such as Garden Herb, which can be enjoyed as a snack, melted into sauces, or used in sandwiches and salads.
While the brand offers a diverse range of flavours, it is important to note that some consumers have expressed disappointment with formula changes in certain products, such as the Smoked Gouda slices, citing issues with texture, taste, and melting capabilities.
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Nutritional value
The nutritional value of Follow Your Heart cheese varies depending on the variety. For example, the nutrition facts for a 20-gram slice of the Dairy-Free American-Style cheese are 60 calories, 4.5g fat, 4g carbs, 0g fiber, 0g sugars, and 0g protein. In comparison, one serving of the Dairy-Free Shredded Mozzarella (1 oz) contains 6g fat, 7g carbs, and 0g protein, amounting to 54 calories from fat and 28 from carbs.
The main ingredients in Follow Your Heart cheese are processed oils and starches, including palm oil, potato starch, and tapioca starch. The cheese also contains coconut oil, modified food starch, high oleic sunflower oil, and calcium citrate. According to one source, the product contains as much saturated fat and sodium as dairy cheese, with 18% DV of saturated fat and 8% DV of sodium.
Follow Your Heart cheese is dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free, grain-free, nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free, vegan, and vegetarian. However, some varieties of the cheese contain the controversial ingredient carrageenan, which is avoided by some consumers due to concerns about its potential impact on gut health.
While Follow Your Heart cheese provides a good source of calcium and melts well, it may not be considered very healthy due to its high content of processed oils and starches. Some consumers have also expressed disappointment with changes to the product's recipe, citing issues with the texture, taste, and melting capabilities of the new formula.
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Availability
Follow Your Heart Cheese Alternative is widely available in the United States and the United Kingdom. In the US, it can be found at major grocers, including Albertsons/Safeway, Walmart, Sprouts, and more. In the UK, it is available at Tesco, Ocado, Sainsbury's, Holland & Barrett, Whole Foods Market, and other grocers.
The product can also be purchased online through Amazon.com, where it is sold in cases of 12, 7-ounce packs. However, it is important to note that refrigerated items like cheese are perishable and tend to have short shelf lives, so consumers ordering online should be mindful of potential expiration dates.
While the cheese alternative is easily accessible, some consumers have expressed disappointment with the "new and improved" recipe, noting changes in texture and taste. This has led to calls for the company to revert to the original recipe, and some have even shared their feedback directly with the company.
Despite the mixed reviews, Follow Your Heart Cheese Alternative remains a popular choice, especially for those with dietary restrictions, as it is dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free, grain-free, nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free, vegan, and vegetarian.
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Recipe changes
Follow Your Heart Cheese Alternative is a vegan, gluten-free, nut-free, and soy-free cheese alternative. It comes in seven flavours, including mozzarella, provolone, garden herb, smoked gouda, and blue cheese. The product is designed to mimic the taste and texture of dairy cheese, and can be grated, melted, and used in recipes such as pan-fried corn quesadillas, nachos, and sandwiches.
In 2024, some customers complained that the recipe for Follow Your Heart Cheese Alternative had changed and that the new version was inferior. The new recipe was described as having a worse texture and taste, with some saying it tasted artificial. The product also fell apart easily, which made it difficult to use as a sliced cheese. It is worth noting that not all customers disliked the new recipe, as some reviews praised the product for melting well and having a good flavour. However, the negative feedback prompted some customers to call the company and threaten to stop buying the product unless the recipe was changed back.
The new recipe contains more ingredients than the original, including filtered water, coconut oil, modified food starch, potato starch, sea salt, natural flavour (plant sources), olive extract, paprika extract, and beta carotene for colour. It is unclear if the number of ingredients contributed to the negative experience of some customers, as the original recipe likely also contained a similar number of ingredients. However, it is possible that the specific combination of ingredients in the new recipe may have resulted in an undesirable texture and taste for some people.
It is important to note that recipe changes can occur for various reasons, such as improving the product, addressing supply chain issues, or meeting new regulatory requirements. While some customers may prefer the original recipe, others may find the new recipe to be an improvement. In this case, the company received enough negative feedback to consider changing the recipe back to the original version.
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Frequently asked questions
Follow Your Heart cheese is made from plant-based ingredients such as water, coconut oil, modified food starch, and potato starch.
Yes, Follow Your Heart cheese is vegan and free from dairy, eggs, gluten, grains, nuts, peanuts, and soy.
Follow Your Heart cheese comes in seven flavors, including cheddar, mozzarella, provolone, smoked gouda, and garden herb.
Follow Your Heart cheese is available at major grocers throughout the U.S., including Albertsons/Safeway, Walmart, and Sprouts. It is also available in the United Kingdom at Tesco, Ocado, Sainsbury’s, and Whole Foods Market, among other grocers.
Unfortunately, I cannot find the exact process of how Follow Your Heart cheese is made. However, it is likely a similar process to other plant-based cheeses, which typically involve blending and heating plant-based ingredients to create a cheese-like texture and flavor.
