Shaved Wood Sold As Grated Parmesan: The Company Behind It

In 2012, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) discovered that Castle Cheese Inc, a Pennsylvania-based company, had been adding wood pulp to their 100% real Parmesan cheese products. The company was also found to be substituting Parmesan with cheaper cheeses like cheddar, Swiss, and mozzarella. Following the FDA's findings, Bloomberg tested several store-bought grated Parmesan cheese products and found high percentages of cellulose, an additive made from wood pulp, in four different brands. This incident sparked widespread skepticism and raised concerns about misleading labeling practices in the food industry.

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Kraft Heinz, Walmart, Albertsons, SuperValu, and Icco Cheese were involved in a lawsuit over their 100% grated Parmesan cheese

Kraft Heinz, Walmart, Albertsons, SuperValu, and Icco Cheese were among several companies involved in a lawsuit alleging that their "100% grated Parmesan cheese" was falsely advertised and misleading to consumers. The issue revolves around the use of cellulose, an anti-caking agent derived from wood pulp, as an ingredient in their grated Parmesan cheese products.

The lawsuit claimed that the presence of cellulose, which is not a cheese ingredient, rendered the "100% grated Parmesan cheese" label false and misleading. Initially, a judge dismissed the lawsuit in 2018, stating that consumers could simply read the ingredient list to see that cellulose was included. However, in late 2020, this decision was overturned by a federal appeals court, which ruled that it was unreasonable to expect consumers to rely on fine print packaging.

The companies named in the lawsuit faced accusations of false advertising and misrepresentation, with plaintiffs arguing that the amount of cellulose present in the cheese exceeded what was necessary to prevent caking. Additionally, it was alleged that the cheese included non-cheese fillers, such as cheaper cheeses, further misrepresenting the product.

The lawsuit highlights the importance of accurate and transparent labeling in the food industry to ensure that consumers can make well-informed decisions about the products they purchase. While the lawsuit specifically targets Kraft Heinz, Walmart, Albertsons, SuperValu, and Icco Cheese, it also raises questions about the broader practice of using fillers and anti-caking agents in grated cheese products and the accuracy of labeling claims.

The full repercussions for the companies involved in the lawsuit are still pending, and it remains to be seen whether the outcome will significantly impact the use of cellulose in grated cheese or primarily result in changes to labeling practices. However, the lawsuit underscores the need for clear and honest labeling that provides consumers with accurate information about the products they consume.

Bloomberg's investigation found that four different brands of grated Parmesan cheese contained high percentages of cellulose

In 2012, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigated Castle Cheese Inc., a Pennsylvania-based company, and found that it had been adding wood pulp to its "100% real Parmesan cheese" products. Following this, Bloomberg conducted an investigation and found that four different brands of grated Parmesan cheese contained high percentages of cellulose, an anti-clumping agent derived from wood pulp.

Bloomberg's investigation revealed that:

• Essential Everyday 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese from Jewel-Osco contained 8.8% cellulose.
• Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s Great Value 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese had 7.8% cellulose.
• Whole Foods 365 brand, which did not list cellulose as an ingredient, had 0.3% cellulose.
• Kraft had 3.8% cellulose.

While cellulose is considered safe and is found in all plant materials, its presence in grated Parmesan cheese at such high percentages has sparked concerns about misleading labelling and consumer fraud. The lawsuit against cheese companies, including Kraft Heinz, Walmart, Albertsons, Supervalu, and Icco Cheese, regarding their "`100% grated Parmesan cheese`" products, was initially dismissed in 2018 but was overturned in 2020. The full repercussions for the companies involved are still pending.

To avoid purchasing grated Parmesan cheese with added cellulose, consumers are advised to buy blocks of Parmesan cheese and grate it themselves.

The lawsuit against cheese companies was dismissed in 2018 as consumers could see that cellulose was in the ingredient list

Several cheese companies, including Kraft Heinz, Walmart, Albertsons, Jewel-Osco, Supervalu, and Icco Cheese, have been involved in a lawsuit over their "100% Grated Parmesan Cheese" labels. The issue revolves around the inclusion of cellulose, an anti-clumping agent derived from wood pulp, in their products. While these companies disclosed cellulose in the ingredient list, consumers argued that the front-label claims of "100% Grated Parmesan Cheese" were deceptive and misleading.

In 2018, a federal judge in Chicago, U.S. District Judge Gary Feinerman, dismissed the central claim in these lawsuits. The judge found a lack of proof that reasonable consumers would be misled into thinking the products were 100% cheese, despite the presence of cellulose. The ruling stated that if there was confusion, consumers could simply read the ingredient list, where cellulose was clearly listed. This decision upheld the legal standing of including cellulose in grated cheese products.

However, it's important to note that the debate continued, and in late 2020, the verdict was overturned. The lawsuit is not expected to affect the use of cellulose in grated cheese but rather modify how these products are labelled in the future.

The inclusion of cellulose in grated cheese products is a contentious issue. While it is a food-safe additive approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), consumers have expressed concerns about the deceptive nature of labelling. Some companies, like Schuman Cheese, have chosen to produce grated Parmesan without cellulose, despite the higher production costs.

This incident highlights the importance of accurate labelling and the need for companies to act responsibly and ethically in their marketing practices. While the initial lawsuits were dismissed, the ongoing legal discussions will likely shape how grated cheese products are labelled and marketed in the future.

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The president of Castle Cheese, the company that supplied megastores like Target, is expected to plead guilty to charges

The president of Castle Cheese, Michelle Myrter, is expected to plead guilty to charges of misbranding food. Castle Cheese, a Pennsylvania-based company, supplied major retailers like Target with Parmesan cheese that was not 100% cheese but contained wood pulp and cheaper cheeses like cheddar, Swiss, and mozzarella. The practice of adding cellulose, an anti-clumping agent derived from wood pulp, to grated Parmesan cheese is legal, but the product's labeling can be misleading. Consumers expect 100% cheese when they purchase products labeled as such, even though the inclusion of the word "grated" allows for the addition of other ingredients under food law.

The issue of mislabeled grated Parmesan cheese came to light in 2012 when the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigated Castle Cheese Inc. and found that they had been adding wood pulp and cheaper cheeses to their "100% real Parmesan" products. The FDA's findings sparked a wider investigation by Bloomberg, which tested several store-bought grated Parmesan cheeses and found high percentages of cellulose in four different brands. Essential Everyday 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese from Jewel-Osco contained 8.8% cellulose, while Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s Great Value 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese had 7.8%. Even brands that did not list cellulose as an ingredient, such as Whole Foods 365, still tested positive for low levels of cellulose (0.3%). Kraft, another well-known brand, had 3.8% cellulose.

The discovery of wood pulp in grated Parmesan cheese has sparked outrage and concerns about food safety and consumer fraud. While cellulose is considered safe to consume and may even provide some fiber, it is misleading for companies to label their products as "100% grated Parmesan cheese" when they contain significant amounts of other ingredients. This incident highlights the importance of accurate labeling in the food industry, allowing consumers to make well-informed decisions about what they are buying and consuming.

The president of Castle Cheese, Michelle Myrter, has been facing a legal battle since the FDA's findings came to light in 2013, and the company filed for bankruptcy shortly thereafter. The charges against Myrter carry a potential sentence of up to a year in prison and a $100,000 fine. This case serves as a warning to other food companies that may be tempted to engage in similar deceptive practices, and it underscores the need for stringent regulations and oversight in the food industry to protect consumers from fraudulent and misleading products.

The FDA's investigation into Castle Cheese, Inc. revealed that the company had been adding wood pulp to their 100% Parmesan cheese products

In 2012, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigated Castle Cheese Inc, a Pennsylvania-based company, and found that it had been adding wood pulp to its "100% real Parmesan" products. The FDA's findings sparked widespread skepticism across the US market, as it was not the only company adding wood pulp to its products.

The substitute that grated Parmesan suppliers have been using in their products is called "cellulose", an anti-clumping agent derived from wood pulp. While cellulose is considered safe and is found in all plant material, its addition to cheese products labelled as "100% grated Parmesan" has been deemed misleading to consumers.

In fact, Castle Cheese Inc's product was also a mixture of cheaper cheeses, such as cheddar, Swiss, and mozzarella, with no actual Parmesan at all. The company's president, Michelle Myrter, faced a 3-year legal battle and filed for bankruptcy shortly after the FDA's findings came to light in 2013. It is expected that Myrter will plead guilty to charges of misbranding food.

The discovery of wood pulp in cheese is just one of many food safety scandals and consumer fraud cases that call into question the contents of our food. Consumers are advised to buy actual Parmesan cheese and grate it themselves to avoid unwanted additives.

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