Babybel cheese, the popular snack-sized cheese wheel, has been around since 1952 when it was first produced in France. The miniature version, Mini Babybel, was introduced in 1977 and has since become synonymous with the brand. The cheese is produced by Bel Group, a French company with roots in the Jura region of France, dating back to 1865.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Company | Le Groupe Bel (The Bel Group) |
Company Roots | Jura region of France |
Company Founded | 1865 |
Country of Origin | France |
Year Babybel was First Produced | 1952 |
Year Mini Babybel was First Produced | 1977 |
What You'll Learn
Babybel's origins and history
Babybel cheese has become a popular and well-loved snack worldwide. The brand has nostalgia on its side, with Gen X and millennials having fond memories of breaking open a mini Babybel cheese wheel at snack time. But what are its origins and history?
Babybel is a brand of cheese produced by the Bel Group, a multinational French cheese company with roots in the Jura region of France, started by Jules Bel in 1865. The original Babybel, a 380-gram wheel, was first produced in France in 1952. This larger version of the cheese was originally modelled after Dutch Edam cheese, which is nutty and salty with a balanced body. The town of Edam in North Holland, where the cheese was initially produced, gave Babybel its name.
In 1977, the first Mini Babybel was produced, and this smaller, snack-sized version has become identified with the company and brand name. Each miniature wheel comes enrobed in a soft, colourful wax coating that can be peeled off for easy eating. The wax not only makes the cheese more appealing but also helps keep it fresh for longer, making Babybel ideal for on-the-go snacking.
Babybel is made from pasteurised cow's milk and contains no artificial preservatives, colours, or flavours. It is a semi-soft cheese with a mild and creamy flavour, although different varieties exist, such as Monterey Jack and White Cheddar. The original Babybel is made using traditional Edam-making processes, with the only difference being that it uses rennet from vegetarian sources rather than animal sources.
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The manufacturing process
Babybel cheese is made using traditional cheese-making processes, combined with modern technology, to create a consistent and premium product. The manufacturing process can be broken down into several key steps:
Milk Pasteurisation:
The process begins with high-quality milk, typically cow's milk, which is pasteurised to eliminate any harmful bacteria. This step ensures the milk is safe for consumption and meets legal requirements.
Fermentation:
Starter cultures are added to the pasteurised milk to initiate fermentation. These cultures convert lactose, the natural sugar in milk, into lactic acid, giving the cheese its characteristic tangy flavour. This step is crucial in the development of the cheese's flavour profile.
Coagulation:
Once the milk has been acidified, rennet is introduced. Rennet is a microbial enzyme that helps coagulate the milk, causing it to form curds. This step is essential in giving Babybel cheese its distinct texture.
Curd Treatment:
The curds are then cut into small pieces to release the whey, a liquid byproduct of cheesemaking. The curds are gently heated and stirred to expel more whey and achieve the desired consistency. This step further refines the texture of the cheese.
Salting:
Salt is added to the curds for flavour enhancement and to inhibit the growth of spoilage bacteria. This step ensures the cheese maintains its freshness and extends its shelf life. The salt is thoroughly mixed with the curds to ensure uniform distribution.
Moulding and Ripening:
The cheese is then moulded into small, round portions and left to ripen. During this ripening period, which can range from a few weeks to a couple of months, the flavours of the cheese develop further. This step is crucial in achieving the distinctive flavour of Babybel cheese.
Wax Coating:
After ripening, the cheese is coated with a layer of wax, typically red, although other colours are used for different flavours. This wax coating serves multiple purposes. Firstly, it acts as a protective layer, preventing contamination and preserving freshness. Secondly, it adds to the visual appeal of the cheese, making it instantly recognisable to consumers.
Packaging:
Each wax-coated cheese is then packaged individually or in netted bags, depending on the market. The packaging provides additional protection and helps to maintain the quality of the cheese during transport and storage.
Distribution:
Babybel cheese is distributed globally and is available in various countries, including the United States, Canada, France, the United Kingdom, and many others. The distribution process involves transportation, storage, and delivery to retailers, ensuring that consumers worldwide can enjoy this popular snack.
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Nutritional value and ingredients
Babybel cheese is a small, round, individually wrapped cheese snack. The original flavour is made from pasteurised cow's milk and contains no artificial preservatives, colours, or flavours. The cheese is named after the town of Edam in North Holland, where it was initially produced, and is therefore an Edam-style cheese.
The original Babybel is made from semi-soft cow's milk cheese, but variations exist, such as Monterey Jack and White Cheddar varieties. The cheese is mild, creamy, and nutty in flavour, and is encased in a signature red wax coating.
The ingredients of the original Babybel are:
- Pasteurised cultured milk
- Salt
- Microbial enzymes
- Microbial rennet
- A small amount of salt
The nutritional information for the original Babybel is as follows:
- Serving size: 1 piece (20g)
- Calories: 70
- Protein: 4g
- Calcium: 15% of the recommended daily intake
- Saturated fat: 3g
The Babybel Light variety contains 50% less fat than the original, with only 50 calories per serving and 6g of protein.
The Babybel Plant-Based variety is a dairy-free cheese alternative made with coconut oil. It is certified plant-based, non-GMO, and vegan. It is also a good source of calcium and vitamin B12.
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Babybel's packaging and branding
Babybel is a brand of small, round, individually packaged snack cheeses. The product is known for its distinctive packaging, which consists of a netted bag containing a piece of cheese encased in a blend of coloured paraffin and microcrystalline wax, inside a cellophane wrapper made of wood pulp, cotton, or other vegetation. The wax coating, designed for quick peeling, serves a dual purpose: it adds an appealing visual aesthetic and acts as a protective layer that helps keep the cheese fresh for longer, even without refrigeration. This makes Babybel an ideal snack for on-the-go consumption.
The original Babybel is made from semi-soft cow's milk cheese and has a red wax coating. However, the brand has expanded its flavour offerings over the years, and different flavours are denoted by different wrapper and wax colours. For example, the light green and white wrapper with "Bio" in green letters (found in Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Portugal, and the United Kingdom) indicates a different flavour than the light green and red wrapper with "Bio" in green letters (found in Slovakia).
Babybel's packaging is not yet widely recyclable, so the company has launched a TerraCycle scheme in the UK to offer customers a simple and free solution to recycle their packaging while supporting local charities and schools. The company is also working on finding fully-recyclable packaging solutions and exploring ways to remove the wrapper altogether.
Babybel's red wax coating is an iconic part of the product's branding and packaging. The wax meets FDA requirements for food-safe wax and helps to protect and preserve the cheese, preventing desiccation or mould and keeping the cheese fresh and hygienic until consumption.
In addition to the signature red wax coating, Babybel's packaging includes a cellophane wrapper made of cellulose from certified sustainably managed forests. This wrapper is now home-compostable. The cardboard used in Babybel's packaging is also made from 100% recycled or certified cardboard, certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
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Where to buy Babybel
Babybel cheese is a brand of small, snack cheese products that are individually packaged and available in various flavours. The original Babybel is made from semi-soft cow's milk cheese, but variations include Monterey Jack and White Cheddar.
Babybel is produced by Le Groupe Bel (The Bel Group), a company with roots in the Jura region of France, started by Jules Bel in 1865. The company has plants in Kentucky and South Dakota, USA, and Évron, France, where half of the global production of Mini Babybel takes place.
You can find Mini Babybel at most national grocery retailers, mass retailers (such as Walmart or Target) and club retailers. The cheese can also be purchased online at Instacart, Amazon Fresh, Peapod, and Freshdirect.
In the UK, the advertising slogan for Babybel in the late 1990s and early 2000s was "Too tasty to share".
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Frequently asked questions
Babybel cheese has been around since 1952.
Babybel cheese originated in France and is produced by the French company Bel Group.
Babybel cheese is made from cow's milk and contains microbial rennet and salt.
An unopened package of Babybel cheese can last up to several weeks when stored in a cool and dry place. Once the wax coating is removed, it is recommended to consume the cheese within a few days.