Kamil Perry
Government cheese is a commodity cheese that was controlled by the US federal government from World War II to the early 1980s. It is a processed cheese product, like American cheese, and consists of a variety of cheese types and other ingredients, such as emulsifiers, blended together. The cheese was bought and distributed by the government to maintain the price of dairy when dairy industry subsidies artificially increased the quantity supplied of milk and created a surplus of milk that was then converted into cheese.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | "Pasteurized process American cheese" |
| Ingredients | Cheddar cheese, Colby cheese, cheese curd, or granular cheese |
| Other Ingredients | Emulsifiers |
| Texture | Melts well, Weird texture, Good for macaroni and cheese or grilled cheese sandwiches |
| Taste | Mild cheddar, Velveeta cheese, Pungent-smelling |
| Nutrition Facts | 9 g of total fat content per serving, 6 g of saturated fat per serving, 30 mg of cholesterol per serving, 380 mg of sodium per serving |
| Colour | Pale orange |
| Weight | 5-pound blocks |
| Storage | Warehouses, Missouri cheese caves, Underground cellars, converted limestone mines |
| Storage Temperature | 36°F |
| Storage Amount | 1.4 billion pounds |
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What You'll Learn
Government cheese is a blend of different cheeses
The term "government cheese" refers to the commodity cheese distributed as part of welfare food supplementation. It is not cheese made by the government but rather bought and distributed by them. The US government started the scheme of buying surplus milk products to help dairy farmers maintain their prices. This surplus was converted into cheese, butter, or powdered milk, and stored in warehouses across 35 states.
The cheese was provided monthly in large, unsliced blocks, with generic product labelling and packaging. It became associated with socioeconomic status and hard times, as it was distributed to those in need during the 1980s recession. The taste and texture of government cheese are often described with disdain, but it has also become a totem of American culture, referenced in songs and cooking shows.
Government cheese is high in saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium, and its health implications are controversial. While some are grateful for the cheese, others dislike how it advertises their socioeconomic status. Today, government cheese is still provided to eligible senior citizens and those in need through food banks and pantries.
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It was distributed to tackle food insecurity
"Government cheese" is a term used to refer to commodity cheese that was controlled and distributed by the US federal government. The cheese was produced with federal funds and bought with government money to help dairy farmers maintain their prices. It was then given away for free to people at food banks, community centres, and other similar locations.
The distribution of government cheese began during World War II and continued until the early 1980s. In 1977, then-President Jimmy Carter decided to invest in the dairy industry to address a national dairy shortage and 30% inflation on dairy products. The government's intervention caused prices to drop drastically, and farmers began overproducing dairy, knowing that the government would purchase any surplus. This resulted in the government accumulating a large surplus of cheese.
In the early 1980s, the US government distributed about 300 million pounds of cheese to tackle food insecurity during the recession. The cheese was provided monthly in unsliced blocks with generic packaging and labelling. While some were grateful for the cheese, others disliked how it advertised their socioeconomic status. The cheese became associated with hard times and was particularly memorable for those who consumed it.
The distribution of government cheese was part of the Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program of the Food and Nutrition Service. The program aimed to address food insecurity during a time when millions of Americans struggled to access food. In 1981, President Ronald Reagan authorised the release of 560 million pounds of cheese stockpiled by the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), a government-owned corporation that stabilises farm incomes by purchasing dairy products.
Today, the distribution of government cheese continues through the USDA Food Nutrition Service Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP). Eligible seniors over the age of 60 receive a monthly allocation of processed cheese food supplied by participating dairies. This initiative helps tackle food insecurity by providing high-protein food to those most in need.
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It is high in saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium
Government cheese is a highly processed food product, and as such, it is high in saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium. The cheese is made from a variety of different types of cheese, including cheddar, Colby, curd, and granular cheese, blended together with emulsifiers and other ingredients. The exact ingredients and nutritional content may vary, but per serving, there are 9 grams of total fat, of which 6 grams are saturated fat, 30 mg of cholesterol, and 380 mg of sodium.
The high levels of saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium in government cheese have led many food scientists to regard it as unhealthy. Indeed, the US Department of Health has run campaigns urging reduced consumption of dairy products. However, the US Department of Agriculture has simultaneously promoted greater consumption of dairy, highlighting the conflicting interests and policies at play.
The cheese's high saturated fat content is due to the use of various types of cheese, which are themselves high in fat, as well as the addition of emulsifiers and other ingredients during processing. The cholesterol content is also influenced by the types of cheese used, as cholesterol is naturally present in dairy products. Finally, the high sodium content is partly due to the use of sodium citrate, which is added to help with emulsion and flavor.
While government cheese may be high in saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium, it is important to note that it is intended to be consumed in moderate portions. The recommended serving size is 1 ounce (28 grams), or two slices, of cheese. However, individuals should be mindful of their overall dietary intake and ensure they are consuming a balanced and varied diet to maintain good health.
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It was stored in cheese caves
The US government has a long history of involvement in the dairy industry, with government-owned cheese becoming a totem of American culture, signalling both class and nostalgia. The government's role in the dairy industry began in 1949 when the Agricultural Act gave the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) the authority to purchase dairy products like cheese from farmers to maintain farm incomes. The CCC is a government-owned corporation.
In the 1970s, the US faced a national dairy shortage and 30% inflation on dairy products. Then-President Jimmy Carter decided to pour money into the dairy industry to alleviate the crisis, providing two billion dollars to the industry over four years. This led to dairy farmers producing more than could be sold on the market, with the government stepping in to purchase the surplus. This surplus of dairy products, particularly cheese, was then stored in "cheese caves".
The cheese caves are hundreds of feet below the ground in Missouri, kept in converted limestone mines at a constant temperature of 36 degrees Fahrenheit. The cheese caves are not a new concept, with the US government storing cheese surpluses in warehouses across 35 states in the 1980s. The cheese stored in these warehouses was distributed to those in need during the recession, with around 300 million pounds of cheese being given out.
The cheese stored in the caves is a result of the government's continued subsidization and stockpiling of surplus cheese. As of 2022, the USDA Food Nutrition Service Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) provides eligible seniors with one 32-ounce block of processed cheese food each month. This program has been controversial due to the high saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium content of the cheese, which is considered unhealthy by many food scientists.
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It was produced from food surpluses
The US government's cheese stockpile, commonly known as "government cheese", is produced from food surpluses. The term "government cheese" refers to the commodity cheese that was controlled and distributed by the US federal government from World War II until the early 1980s. The cheese was created to maintain dairy prices when dairy industry subsidies artificially increased milk supply, creating a surplus of milk that was then converted into cheese, butter, or powdered milk. The government purchased this surplus milk to support dairy farmers and prevent a further decline in prices.
The surplus cheese was then bought and stored by the government's Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), a government-owned corporation dedicated to stabilising farm incomes. In 1981, President Ronald Reagan authorised the release and distribution of 560 million pounds of cheese stockpiled by the CCC. This cheese was provided to individuals below the poverty line, with some sources noting that it was often the only option for those facing food insecurity.
The cheese was distributed in monthly instalments, typically in unsliced blocks of around 5 pounds, with generic product labelling and packaging. It is described as having a pungent smell and a distinct texture, with a flavour ranging from mild cheddar to Velveeta cheese due to variations in ingredients. While some appreciated its availability, others disliked how it advertised their socioeconomic status.
The production and distribution of government cheese continued until the 1990s when dairy prices stabilised, and the government ceased its involvement in the cheese business. However, as of 2022, the USDA Food Nutrition Service Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) still provides eligible seniors with blocks of processed cheese food each month, although this is supplied by participating dairies rather than being produced from government-owned surpluses.
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Frequently asked questions
Government cheese is a commodity cheese that was controlled and distributed by the US federal government from World War II to the early 1980s.
Government cheese is made from a variety of cheese types and other ingredients such as emulsifiers, blended together. The cheese types used include cheddar cheese, Colby cheese, cheese curd, or granular cheese.
The flavour of government cheese has been described as ranging from mild cheddar to Velveeta cheese due to variations in ingredients. Some people reminisce about the flavour of government cheese, both good and bad.
The US government stores the cheese in warehouses and cheese caves. The cheese is then distributed to eligible senior citizens, food banks, and community centres.
The US government intervenes in the dairy market to 'protect' producers. The government started the scheme of buying surplus milk products to help dairy farmers by maintaining their prices.
