Andy Montoya
Government cheese in the United States was provided to welfare beneficiaries, Food Stamp recipients, and the elderly receiving Social Security, as well as to food banks and churches. It was highly salted cheddar, made from an amalgam of random processed cheeses. The program was initiated by Jimmy Carter to stabilize dairy prices by subsidizing dairy and preserving the surplus by making government cheese. As of 2022, eligible seniors over the age of 60 are provided one 32-ounce block of processed cheese food each month, supplied by participating dairies.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What is government cheese? | Processed cheese provided to welfare beneficiaries, Food Stamp recipients, and the elderly receiving Social Security |
| Who is eligible? | Low-income elderly persons aged 60 and above who meet income eligibility requirements |
| How much cheese is provided? | One 32-ounce (910 g) block of processed cheese food each month |
| Where is the cheese stored? | In "Missouri cheese caves", underground warehouses in the Midwestern state of Missouri, and over 150 warehouses across 35 states |
| How is the cheese distributed? | Monthly, in unsliced block form, with generic product labeling and packaging |
| What type of cheese is it? | Highly salted cheddar, made from an amalgam of random processed cheeses |
| Why is it provided? | To reduce a cheese surplus and tackle food insecurity, as well as to support farmers and cheese companies |
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What You'll Learn
Government cheese history
Government cheese in the US was processed cheese provided to welfare beneficiaries, Food Stamp recipients, and the elderly receiving Social Security. It was also distributed to food banks and churches. This program was controlled by the US federal government from World War II to the early 1980s.
The cheese was a byproduct of maintaining an artificially high (and stabilized) price of milk through dairy industry subsidies, which produced a surplus that was in turn converted into cheese, butter, and powdered milk. The excess after designated uses was stored in over 150 warehouses across 35 states, creating a strategic Federal food reserve available for unexpected surges in demand (such as disaster relief) and crises (such as potential nuclear conflict during the Cold War).
The history of government cheese can be traced back to the Agricultural Act of 1949, which gave the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) the authority to stabilize farm incomes. The CCC was a government-owned corporation. In the 1970s, with inflation skyrocketing, President Jimmy Carter promised to raise milk prices, which led to the most massive dairy surplus in US history. In 1981, the federal government had 560 million pounds of cheese, most of it stored in vast subterranean storage facilities.
In December 1981, President Ronald Reagan created the Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program, which began handing out the blocks of processed cheese to the elderly, low-income people, and organizations that served them. Reagan ordered that the surplus of cheese be held in federal storage in warehouses across the country and given to needy Americans. The cheese was distributed monthly, in unsliced block form, with generic product labeling and packaging.
The government cheese program ended in the 1990s when the dairy market stabilized.
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Who is eligible for government cheese?
Government cheese was initially provided through the Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program at no cost to recipients of welfare, food stamps, and Social Security, with no impact on food stamp eligibility or use. California was the first state to receive government cheese. The cheese was also distributed to victims of natural disasters following a state of emergency declaration.
As of 2022, eligible seniors over the age of 60 are provided with one 32-ounce (910 g) block of processed cheese food each month, supplied by participating dairies. This is part of the USDA Food Nutrition Service Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP). To be eligible, individuals must reside in one of the participating states or on one of the Indian reservations that participate in CSFP. States establish income limits for the elderly that are at or below 130% of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines. States may also require that participants be at nutritional risk, as determined by a physician or local agency staff.
Women, infants, and children who were certified to receive CSFP benefits before February 6, 2014, are also eligible to continue receiving assistance under the program rules in effect on that date, in accordance with the Agricultural Act of 2014. However, those who applied after this date cannot be certified to participate in the program but may be eligible for other nutrition assistance programs such as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
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Where to buy government cheese
Government cheese was distributed to welfare beneficiaries, Food Stamp recipients, and the elderly receiving Social Security in the United States, as well as to food banks and churches. It was also provided through the Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program at no cost to recipients of welfare, food stamps, and Social Security.
The program was controlled by the US federal government from World War II until the early 1990s. It was a byproduct of maintaining an artificially high (and stabilized) price of milk through dairy industry subsidies, which produced a surplus that was in turn converted into cheese, butter, and powdered milk.
The cheese was bought and stored by the government's Commodity Credit Corporation, which no longer exists. It was provided monthly in unsliced block form, with generic product labeling and packaging.
As of 2022, eligible seniors over the age of 60 are provided one 32-ounce (910 g) block of processed cheese food each month, supplied by participating dairies.
Government cheese can be purchased online from Amazon.com.
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Government cheese taste and texture
Government cheese is a commodity cheese that was controlled by the US federal government from World War II until the early 1980s. It is a processed cheese product, made from a variety of cheeses (such as cheddar, Colby, curd, or granular cheese) blended with emulsifiers and other ingredients. It is provided to welfare beneficiaries, Food Stamp recipients, and the elderly receiving Social Security, as well as to food banks and churches.
The taste and texture of government cheese are not widely acclaimed. Sources suggest that it ranges from mild cheddar to Velveeta in flavour, and that it has a brick-shaped carton and "Dayglo orange matter". Some people have fond memories of government cheese, recalling it as a cornerstone of survival and a staple of my childhood. Others have described it as humiliating.
Some people reminisce about the flavour of government cheese, both good and bad. Affinity for government cheese is correlated with socioeconomic status, with those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds more likely to have consumed it.
Government cheese is reportedly versatile, melting and slicing well, and is therefore easy to cook with. It is also said to have a long shelf life.
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Government cheese distribution
Government cheese was distributed to welfare beneficiaries, Food Stamp recipients, and the elderly receiving Social Security. It was also provided to food banks and churches. The cheese was bought and stored by the government's Commodity Credit Corporation. Direct distribution of dairy products began in 1982 under the Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program of the Food and Nutrition Service.
The cheese was provided monthly in unsliced block form, with generic product labelling and packaging. It was often from food surpluses stockpiled by the government as part of milk price support. The government bought and stockpiled cheese to support and prop up the dairy industry, which produced a surplus that was then converted into cheese, butter, and powdered milk. The excess was stored in over 150 warehouses across 35 states, creating a strategic Federal food reserve available for disaster relief and crisis.
As of 2022, eligible seniors over the age of 60 are provided with one 32-ounce block of processed cheese food each month, supplied by participating dairies. This is part of the USDA Food Nutrition Service Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP). The CSFP also includes low-income elderly persons aged 60 or above who meet income eligibility requirements, as well as women, infants, and children receiving CSFP benefits prior to February 6th, 2014.
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Frequently asked questions
Government 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.
Eligibility for government cheese depends on various factors including age, income, and family composition. For example, eligible seniors over the age of 60 who meet income eligibility requirements can receive government cheese. Women, infants, and children may also be eligible under certain conditions.
To apply for government cheese, you should contact your local government office or the Food and Nutrition Service to inquire about the specific application process and requirements.
Government cheese was distributed by the government to eligible individuals and organizations. It is not typically available for purchase, but similar options may be available in grocery stores or through specific cheese manufacturers.
