Andy Montoya
Commodity cheese, also known as government cheese, is processed cheese provided to welfare beneficiaries, Food Stamp recipients, and the elderly receiving Social Security in the United States. It is also distributed to food banks, churches, and schools. The US government began stockpiling cheese in the 1980s, with the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) storing over 560 million pounds of cheese. This cheese was then distributed to states, with each receiving 30 million pounds to give to those in need. While the direct distribution of dairy products under the Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program started in 1982, government cheese has been used in military kitchens since World War II. Government cheese is known for its high salt content and long shelf life, and its flavor has been compared to mild cheddar or Velveeta cheese. While it is no longer distributed as widely, some seniors over the age of 60 still receive commodity cheese through the USDA Food Nutrition Service Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP).
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Processed cheese provided to welfare beneficiaries, Food Stamp recipients, and the elderly receiving Social Security |
| Control | US federal government |
| Time period | World War II to the early 1980s |
| Reasoning | Maintaining an artificially high and stabilized price of milk through dairy industry subsidies, which produced a surplus |
| Surplus conversion | Cheese, butter, and powdered milk |
| Storage | Over 150 warehouses across 35 states |
| Purpose | Create a strategic Federal food reserve available for unexpected surges in demand (e.g., disaster relief) and potential crises (e.g., nuclear conflict during the Cold War) |
| Distribution | Monthly, in unsliced block form, with generic product labeling and packaging |
| Taste | Comparable to mild cheddar or Velveeta cheese, highly salted |
| Nutritional information | Per 1-ounce (28-gram) serving: 9 grams of total fat, 6 grams of saturated fat, 30 milligrams of cholesterol, and 380 milligrams of sodium |
| Current status | As of 2022, eligible seniors over 60 receive a 32-ounce (910-gram) block of processed cheese monthly under the USDA Food Nutrition Service Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) |
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What You'll Learn
Commodity cheese is distributed to food banks and pantries
Commodity cheese, also known as government cheese, is distributed to food banks and pantries as part of the USDA Food Nutrition Service Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP). This program aims to provide aid to those in need, tackle food insecurity, and stabilise farm prices.
The distribution of commodity cheese to food banks and pantries has a long history in the United States. As early as the 1950s, government cheese was supplied to schools, and during World War II, it was used in military kitchens. The cheese is typically provided in the form of unsliced blocks, with generic product labelling and packaging, and has been described as highly salted cheddar or a processed cheese product.
In 1981, President Reagan authorised the release of stockpiled cheese by the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), which was distributed to nonprofit organisations to provide free cheese to those in need. This was followed by the implementation of the Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program of the Food and Nutrition Service in 1982, which facilitated the direct distribution of dairy products, including cheese.
More recently, in 2016, the US Department of Agriculture purchased a significant amount of cheese to distribute to food banks and pantries across the United States. This action was taken to address a substantial cheese surplus and ensure that high-protein food reached those most in need. As of 2022, eligible seniors over the age of 60 continue to receive commodity cheese through the CSFP.
It is important to note that commodity cheese provided to food banks and pantries has been a subject of discussion regarding its potential impact on obesity rates among individuals in poverty. However, the distribution of this cheese also serves as a safety net for those facing food insecurity and provides added stability in the marketplace.
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It is provided to welfare beneficiaries and food stamp recipients
Government cheese is provided to welfare beneficiaries and food stamp recipients. It is a commodity cheese that was controlled by the US federal government from World War II until the early 1980s. The cheese was bought and stored by the government's Commodity Credit Corporation, which stockpiled 560 million pounds (250,000 metric tons) of cheese.
The distribution of government cheese began in 1982 under the Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program of the Food and Nutrition Service. It was provided monthly in unsliced blocks with generic product labelling and packaging. The cheese was often from food surpluses stockpiled by the government as part of milk price support initiatives.
Government cheese is also provided to food banks and churches, as well as to the elderly receiving Social Security. It has been argued that people in poverty, such as those entitled to government cheese, are more likely to become obese. Between 1988 and 1994, people below the poverty line had an obesity rate of 29.2 percent.
The cheese is described as being highly salted cheddar. It has been compared in taste to Velveeta cheese and Tillamook cheese. Government cheese is still available at food pantries and banks, and some individuals have shared their positive experiences with the taste.
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Commodity cheese is also given to the elderly receiving social security
Commodity cheese, also known as government cheese, is provided to the elderly receiving social security in the United States. This processed cheese is distributed as part of the USDA Food Nutrition Service Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP). Eligible seniors over the age of 60 can receive a monthly supply of cheese through this program. The cheese is supplied by participating dairies and is typically provided in a 32-ounce (910-gram) block form.
Government cheese has a long history in the United States, dating back to World War II when it was used in military kitchens. The US federal government controlled the distribution of this cheese from World War II until the early 1980s. It was created as a byproduct of maintaining high milk prices through dairy industry subsidies, which resulted in a surplus of milk that was converted into cheese, butter, and powdered milk. The excess dairy products were stored in warehouses across multiple states, creating a strategic food reserve.
In the early 1980s, under the Reagan administration, there was a push to distribute the stockpiled cheese to those in need. This led to the signing of the Agriculture and Food Act of 1981, which authorized the release of millions of pounds of cheese from the Commodity Credit Corporation to be given to the needy through nonprofit organizations. The cheese was provided at no cost to recipients of welfare, food stamps, and social security, addressing food insecurity across the nation.
While the direct distribution of government cheese began in 1982 under the Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program, the program faced criticism in the same decade. The press highlighted the contrast between the stockpiled milk products and the food insecurity experienced by millions of Americans. This led to government cheese becoming a topic of discussion and scrutiny.
Today, government cheese continues to be provided to seniors over 60, along with other food assistance programs offered by the USDA, such as the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP). These programs aim to support low-income older adults by providing access to nutritious food, including fresh produce and dairy products.
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The cheese is bought and stored by the Commodity Credit Corporation
Commodity cheese, also known as government cheese, was bought and stored by the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), a division of the US government. The cheese was purchased to maintain artificially high milk prices through dairy industry subsidies, which produced a surplus that was converted into cheese, butter, and powdered milk. This surplus was then stored in over 150 warehouses across 35 states, creating a strategic federal food reserve.
On December 22, 1981, President Ronald Reagan signed the Agriculture and Food Act of 1981 into law, authorizing the release of 560 million pounds (250,000 metric tons) of cheese from the CCC inventory. This cheese was to be distributed for free to those in need through nonprofit organizations. The CCC's cheese inventory was estimated to be around 547.4 million pounds at the time.
The direct distribution of dairy products, including cheese, began in 1982 under the Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program of the Food and Nutrition Service. The cheese was provided monthly in unsliced blocks with generic packaging and labeling. It was often sourced from food surpluses stockpiled by the government as part of milk price support initiatives.
The cheese provided by the CCC was described as slicing and melting well. It was made from a variety of cheeses, including cheddar, Colby, cheese curd, or granular cheese, and was made meltable using emulsifiers and blending. Government cheese was provided to welfare beneficiaries, Food Stamp recipients, and the elderly receiving Social Security. It also played a role in disaster relief and military kitchens during World War II.
As of 2022, eligible seniors over the age of 60 continue to receive a 32-ounce block of processed cheese food each month as part of the USDA Food Nutrition Service Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP).
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It is highly salted cheddar
Government cheese is a commodity cheese that was controlled by the US federal government from World War II until the early 1980s. It was provided to welfare beneficiaries, Food Stamp recipients, and the elderly receiving Social Security. The cheese was distributed in blocks with generic product labelling and packaging.
Government cheese is highly salted cheddar. According to one source, if you took Tillamook, pressed out half the whey, and tripled the salt, you'd have government cheese. The high salt content acts as a preservative, making the cheese more resistant to spoilage.
Cheddar is the most popular cheese, but it contains more salt than a bag of crisps. A 30g portion of cheddar contains 0.52g of salt on average. However, it is possible to find low-salt cheddar options, such as Wyke Farm's Super Light Cheddar, which contains only 0.37g of salt per 30g portion.
While government cheese is no longer distributed, similar cheese may be available at food banks. However, it cannot be purchased in grocery stores.
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Frequently asked questions
Commodity cheese is processed cheese provided to welfare beneficiaries, Food Stamp recipients, and the elderly receiving Social Security in the United States, as well as to food banks and churches.
Commodity cheese is provided to eligible seniors over the age of 60 as part of the USDA Food Nutrition Service Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP). You can also get it from food banks.
The flavor of commodity cheese has been compared to mild cheddar or Velveeta cheese. Some people claim that Tillamook cheese is the closest in taste to commodity cheese.
