Bushra Griffith
Cheetos are a quintessentially American snack food, made of cornmeal and cheese. They were invented by Frito-Lay founder Charles Elmer Doolin in 1948 and are now sold in over 36 countries. The cheese in Cheetos is dehydrated Wisconsin cheddar, and it takes 5,000 cows to generate a year's supply of it. The cornmeal is enriched with nutrients like riboflavin and folic acid, which are lost during the processing of corn.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Main Ingredients | Enriched cornmeal, vegetable oil, whey, salt, cheddar cheese, cultured milk, enzymes, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, maltodextrin, disodium phosphate, sour cream, artificial flavor, monosodium glutamate, lactic acid, artificial colors, citric acid |
| Other Ingredients | Ferrous sulfate, niacin, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid, sugar, MSG |
| Type of Cheese | Cheddar |
| Cheese Source | Wisconsin, USA |
| Cheese State | Dehydrated |
| Cheese Seasoning | Cheetle |
| Number of Countries Sold In | 36 |
| Number of Varieties in North America | 21 |
| Annual Retail Sales | $4 billion |
| Yearly Supply of Milk Required | 11 million gallons |
| Number of Cows Required | 5,000 |
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What You'll Learn
Enriched cornmeal
Cheetos are made by creating an "enriched cornmeal". This involves blending corn and water, with the cornmeal being made from ground corn that has had its germ removed to prevent spoiling. The germ removal process causes a loss of nutrients, so additional nutrients are added to the cornmeal to increase its nutritional value. This enriched cornmeal is then fed through an extruder that heats the liquid inside, causing it to pop like popcorn and creating an uneven texture. The product is then oven-dried or fried, forming the crunchy variety of Cheetos.
The enriched cornmeal contains corn meal, ferrous sulfate, niacin, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, and folic acid. Riboflavin is necessary for the synthesis of various chemicals in the body, and folic acid is a synthetic, lab-made replacement for folates, which are a group of vitamins essential for human health. The processing of cornmeal eliminates about 60% of naturally occurring riboflavin, so these nutrients are added back in to enhance the nutritional profile of the snack.
After the enriched cornmeal is fried, it is then tumbled with the desired flavour components, including the cheese powder. This cheese powder is made from dehydrated Wisconsin cheddar cheese, which is also used in the military's dehydrated food products. The cheese powder contains whey, yellow 6, lactic acid, citric acid, vegetable oil, vitamin B, sugar, salt, and MSG, among other things. The cheese powder is not too different from the cheese powder found in boxed macaroni and cheese, giving Cheetos their signature cheesy flavour.
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Dehydrated cheese
To dehydrate cheese, cut the cheese into small pieces, no more than 1/4 inch thick. The smaller the pieces, the faster and more evenly they will dry. Place the cheese pieces on a dehydrator tray, leaving space around each piece so they are not touching. If using a home dehydrator, set the temperature to the lowest setting. Flip the cheese pieces over every three hours. If the food dehydrator does not have a fan, rearrange the trays every few hours to ensure even drying. The cheese is ready when it is hard and crunchy and may be lightly browned.
Once the cheese is fully dry, remove it from the dehydrator and let it cool completely before packaging. To extend the shelf life, store the dehydrated cheese in a cool, dry place, in an airtight container. It should last for several months in cold storage or longer if vacuum-sealed.
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Natural ingredients
Cheetos are made by creating an "enriched cornmeal", which is a blend of corn and water. The corn is ground into cornmeal, and the cornmeal is then enriched by adding nutrients to increase its nutritional value. The enriched cornmeal is then oven-dried or fried and tumbled with the desired flavour components. The original Crunchy Cheetos are fried. The product is then coated with cheese powder, which contains natural ingredients such as whey, cheddar cheese, milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes, canola oil, and maltodextrin.
The cheese powder is made from dehydrated Wisconsin cheddar cheese. The cheese is dehydrated to extend its shelf life and reduce its weight, making it a key ingredient in Cheetos. The cheese powder gives Cheetos their distinctive neon-orange colour and salty, cheese-imbued flavour.
In addition to the cheese powder, the Cheetos themselves contain natural ingredients such as enriched corn meal (corn meal, ferrous sulfate, niacin, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, and folic acid), vegetable oil (corn, soybean, or sunflower oil), whey, salt, cheddar cheese, and partially hydrogenated soybean oil.
Cheetos also contain natural ingredients that provide health benefits. For example, riboflavin is necessary for the synthesis of various chemicals in the body, and folic acid (vitamin B9) helps prevent diarrhea and nerve damage.
The natural ingredients in Cheetos contribute to their popularity as a snack food, with Cheetos being ranked as the top-selling brand of cheese puffs in the US and annual retail sales totaling approximately $4 billion worldwide.
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Cheese powder
Cheetos are a crunchy corn-cheese puff snack brand made by Frito-Lay, a subsidiary of PepsiCo. The process of making Cheetos involves creating an "enriched cornmeal" by mixing cornmeal with ferrous sulfate, niacin, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, and folic acid. This mixture is then fed through an extruder that heats the liquid inside, causing it to pop like popcorn and creating an uneven texture. The resulting product is then deep-fried and sprayed with cheese powder.
This cheese powder is made from dehydrated Wisconsin cheddar cheese, which was first developed by the military during World War II as a way to extend the shelf life of cheese and reduce its weight. The cheese powder in Cheetos contains whey, yellow 6, lactic acid, citric acid, vegetable oil, vitamin B, sugar, salt, and MSG. The yellow colour of the cheese powder is derived from annatto, a food colouring made from the seeds of the achiote tree, and/or paprika.
While the cheese powder in Cheetos is made from real cheese, it also contains various additives and preservatives. One source claims that out of the 43 ingredients in Cheetos, most are additives, including THHQ, a preservative that has been linked to toxic effects. The high salt levels in Cheetos have also been criticised as contributing to negative health outcomes.
Cheetos come in a variety of flavours, including original Crunchy Cheetos, Flamin' Hot Cheetos, Sweetos (cinnamon sugar), Pepsi-flavoured, Mountain Dew-flavoured, and Zesty Japanese, among others. The brand has also introduced Natural Cheetos, which are made with all-natural ingredients and real Wisconsin white cheddar cheese.
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Artificial colours
Cheetos are made by creating an "enriched cornmeal", which is then fed through an extruder that heats the liquid inside, creating an uneven texture. The product is then oven-dried or fried and tumbled with the desired flavour components. The crunchy variety is fried, while the puffs are baked. After this process, the Cheetos are sprayed with a cheese powder, which contains artificial colours, such as Yellow 6 and Red 40 Lake.
Yellow 6, also known as Sunset Yellow FCF, is a synthetic food colourant that belongs to the azo dye group. It is commonly used in the food industry to impart an orange or yellow colour to products. This artificial colourant is also used in beverages, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. Yellow 6 has the chemical formula C18H14N2Na2O7S2 and is considered safe for consumption by various regulatory agencies, including the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, some studies have raised concerns about its potential adverse effects, linking its consumption to hyperactivity in children and possible carcinogenic effects.
Red 40 Lake, on the other hand, is another artificial colourant that provides a reddish-brown shade to Cheetos. It is a water-insoluble form of the dye Allura Red AC, which is also known as Red 40. Red 40 Lake is created by absorbing the dye onto an insoluble substrate, resulting in a pigment that can be suspended in solutions without dissolving. This colourant has the chemical formula C18H14N2Na2O8 and is commonly used in a variety of products, including cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and food items. While it has been approved by the FDA for use in food and drugs, there have been concerns and debates about its safety. Some studies have linked Red 40 to hyperactivity in children, while others have suggested possible carcinogenic effects.
The use of these artificial colourants in Cheetos has been a subject of controversy due to the potential health risks associated with them. While regulatory agencies have set acceptable daily intake levels for these colourants, some consumers prefer to avoid them due to the potential adverse effects. It is worth noting that the safety of food colourants is an ongoing area of research, and regulations may evolve as new evidence emerges.
In recent years, there has been a growing trend towards natural and organic food products, and some consumers are increasingly seeking alternatives to artificially coloured snacks. As a result, some companies have started to produce Cheetos-like snacks that are free from artificial colours and flavours, catering to health-conscious consumers who prefer more natural options.
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Frequently asked questions
The cheese in Cheetos is made from dehydrated Wisconsin cheddar, whey, vegetable oil, maltodextrin, salt, whey protein concentrate, monosodium glutamate, natural and artificial flavors, lactic acid, citric acid, and artificial coloring.
Yes, Cheetos are made with real cheese. However, they also contain dairy products and animal products, such as animal enzymes, making them non-vegan and non-vegetarian.
The cheese powder on Cheetos, also known as "Cheetle," contains whey, yellow 6, lactic acid, citric acid, vegetable oil, vitamin B, sugar, salt, and MSG, among other things.
The type of cheese used in Cheetos is cheddar cheese, specifically Wisconsin cheddar.
