Andy Montoya
Babybel is a brand of small snack cheese products that are individually packaged and available in various flavours. The original flavour is creamy, smooth, tangy, and semi-soft. Babybel is made from pasteurised cow's milk, rennet, lactic ferments, and salt. The cheese is coated in a blend of paraffin and microcrystalline waxes and colouring. Babybel is produced by Le Groupe Bel, a French company with roots in the Jura region of France.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Brand | Mini Babybel |
| Company | Le Groupe Bel (The Bel Group) |
| Country of origin | France |
| Type of cheese | Semisoft, European style |
| Flavours | Original, Light, Sharp Original, Gouda, White Cheddar, Mozzarella, Mini Rolls, Plant-Based |
| Ingredients | Pasteurised milk, rennet, lactic ferments, salt, microbial enzymes |
| Diet suitability | Lacto-vegetarian, non-GMO, vegan (plant-based only) |
| Packaging | Wax coating, netted bag, cellophane wrapper |
| Storage | Refrigeration required, can be stored unrefrigerated for 2-4 hours |
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What You'll Learn
Babybel is made from pasteurised cow's milk
Babybel is a brand of cheese produced by a French company, Le Groupe Bel, which was started by Jules Bel in 1865 in the Jura region of France. The most popular variety, Babybel Original, is an Edam-style cheese made from pasteurised cow's milk.
The process of pasteurisation involves heating milk to a specific temperature for a set period of time to destroy harmful bacteria. This process helps to ensure the safety and quality of the milk and resulting cheese. The pasteurised cow's milk used in Babybel is combined with other ingredients, such as rennet, lactic ferments, and salt, to create the distinctive flavour and texture of the cheese.
Babybel Original is known for its small, snack-sized portions, which are individually packaged and coated in a blend of coloured paraffin and microcrystalline wax. This wax coating not only helps to protect the cheese but also adds to the characteristic packaging that Babybel has become known for. The wax is food-safe and meets strict regulatory standards, posing no health risk if accidentally ingested.
In addition to the Original variety, Babybel also offers several other types of cheese made in the style of other common firm cheeses, such as Light, Sharp Original, Gouda, White Cheddar, and Mozzarella. These varieties also feature the original flavour's semisoft texture and tang, with subtle flavour differences. The brand also offers a plant-based, dairy-free alternative made with coconut oil, providing a vegan option while maintaining the signature Babybel taste and texture.
Babybel has become a popular snack cheese, known for its convenience and flavour. The small, individually packaged portions make it ideal for on-the-go consumption, and its versatility allows it to be enjoyed as a snack on its own or as an ingredient in various recipes.
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It is an Edam-style cheese
Babybel is a brand of cheese produced by a French company, Le Groupe Bel (French for 'The Bel Group'), which was started by Jules Bel in 1865 in the Jura region of France. The company has roots in France, but it has since expanded to have subsidiaries all over the world, including production facilities in Canada, the US, and Australia.
The Original Mini Babybel is an Edam-style cheese. It is made from pasteurised milk, rennet, lactic ferments, and salt, using traditional Edam-making processes. Notably, the rennet used in Babybel cheese is sourced from vegetarian sources, rather than animal sources, making it suitable for lacto-vegetarian diets. This also means that the cheese is naturally lactose-free.
Babybel cheese is semi-soft and has a mild, creamy, and tangy flavour. It is individually packaged and coated in a blend of paraffin and microcrystalline wax, with a coloured outer layer. This wax coating helps to keep the cheese fresh and safe to consume, even when stored at room temperature for several hours. The protective wax meets strict regulatory standards and poses no health risk if accidentally ingested.
The Original Mini Babybel, being an Edam-style cheese, is the most popular variety. However, Babybel also offers other varieties modelled after different types of European cheeses, including Gouda, White Cheddar, and Mozzarella. These varieties retain the semi-soft texture and characteristic tang of the original flavour, with some subtle flavour differences.
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It is suitable for lacto-vegetarians
Babybel cheese is suitable for lacto-vegetarians. The cheese is made from pasteurised milk, rennet, lactic ferments, and salt. Importantly for vegetarians, the rennet used in Babybel is sourced from vegetarian sources, rather than animal sources. The cheese is also naturally lactose-free.
Babybel is made by Le Groupe Bel, a company with roots in the Jura region of France. The company was started by Jules Bel in 1865. The original Babybel was a 380-gram wheel, first produced in France in 1952. In 1977, the first Mini Babybel was produced, which has since become identified with the company and brand name.
The Mini Babybel is made with 100% real cow's milk and is suitable for lacto-vegetarian diets. The cheese is made using microbial enzymes, rather than rennet of animal origin. The company's website also states that during the production process, they do not use peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, wheat, fish, or shellfish.
Babybel also offers a plant-based, dairy-free cheese alternative, which is certified vegan and made without milk. This product is made in a separate space, dedicated to plant-based products, to ensure there is no exposure to milk or other animal products.
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It is coated in food-safe wax
Babybel cheese is coated in food-safe wax. This wax is made from a blend of paraffin and microcrystalline waxes and colouring. The wax is safe to ingest and poses no health risk if accidentally swallowed. Babybel's protective wax shell also allows the cheese to be stored unrefrigerated at room temperature for several hours. This makes it a convenient snack to take on the go, for example in a lunchbox.
The wax coating has a functional purpose, as it helps to keep the cheese fresh. After the wax is removed, the cheese should be eaten right away to prevent the air from drying it out. The wax coating is also part of what makes Babybel cheese so recognisable. The cheese wheels are silver dollar-sized and dipped in colourful wax.
Babybel is a brand of cheese produced by a French company, Le Groupe Bel. The most popular variety is the Mini Babybel, a snack-sized portion of what was originally sold as a larger cheese. The Mini Babybel is made in the style of Dutch Edam cheese and is coated in wax, whereas the larger variety, Babybel Maxi, is sold in France without the wax coating.
Babybel also produces a plant-based, dairy-free cheese alternative, which is made in the same facility as its dairy-based products but in a separate space. This product is also coated in wax.
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Babybel also makes a dairy-free alternative
Babybel is a brand of cheese produced by a French company, Le Groupe Bel, which was started by Jules Bel in 1865 in the Jura region of France. The Original flavour, the most common variety, is an Edam-style cheese made from pasteurised milk, rennet, lactic ferments, and salt. It is made using traditional Edam-making processes, except that rennet from vegetarian sources is used instead of animal sources. It is also naturally lactose-free.
Babybel Plant-Based was developed to taste like mozzarella and is a good option for those who are lactose intolerant or follow a vegan or vegetarian diet. The product is also free from gluten, nuts, peanuts, eggs, soy, sesame, mustard, fish, crustaceans, and shellfish, and studies conducted at Babybel production sites have found no evidence of cross-contamination with these allergens.
Babybel is known for its distinctive packaging, with each 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 helps to keep the cheese fresh and can be safely ingested, although it is not recommended.
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Frequently asked questions
Babybel Original is made from pasteurised milk, rennet, lactic ferments, and salt. The cheese is made using traditional Edam-making processes, except that the rennet is sourced from vegetarian sources rather than animal sources.
Babybel cheese is made from 100% real cow's milk.
Babybel cheese is coated in a blend of paraffin and microcrystalline waxes and colouring.
Babybel cheese does not contain any meat, fish or seafood. It is made using microbial enzymes, so it may be considered suitable for a vegetarian diet.
