Bushra Griffith
Kraft Singles, introduced in 1950, are a brand of processed cheese product manufactured and sold by Kraft Heinz. They are individually wrapped slices that are formed separately during manufacturing. While they are marketed as cheese, Kraft Singles are not legally classified as cheese because they contain less than 51% cheese. Instead, they are a processed amalgamation of pasteurized milk by-products and other additives, including milk protein concentrate, whey, calcium phosphate, sodium phosphate, modified food starch, lactic acid, and enzymes. The product has been criticized for its high levels of saturated fat, additives, and processing concerns.
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What You'll Learn
Kraft Singles are not legally cheese
Kraft Singles are a popular food item, widely used in sandwiches and grilled cheese. However, despite their flavour and appearance, Kraft Singles are not legally considered cheese.
Kraft Singles were introduced in 1950 as "Kraft De Luxe Process Slices" and were initially not individually wrapped. In 1965, Kraft began selling its cheese slices in separate wrappers, revolutionizing the product's packaging and marketing. Although Kraft Singles are commonly associated with individually wrapped cheese slices, the idea was first developed by an American engineer, Arnold Nawrocki, and the Clearfield Cheese Company.
Kraft Singles are made by melting down unusable pieces of cheese and blending them with other ingredients. This results in a product that is less than 51% real cheese. The other ingredients in Kraft Singles include milk, whey, milk protein concentrate, milkfat, sodium phosphate, sorbic acid, and paprika extract, which gives each slice its signature yellow colour.
Due to the low percentage of real cheese in the product, Kraft Singles cannot be legally classified as cheese. Instead, they are labelled as a "cheese food product" or "pasteurized processed cheese food". In 2002, the FDA ordered Kraft to change its labelling from "Pasteurized Process Cheese Food" to "Pasteurized Prepared Cheese Product" due to a formulation change that included a non-permitted additive, milk protein concentrate.
While Kraft Singles may not be legally considered cheese, they are still widely consumed and enjoyed by many, with around 40% of households in the United States continuing to purchase the product as of 2019.
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Kraft Singles are a processed cheese product
The specific ingredients in Kraft Singles can vary, but one listed includes:
> CHEDDAR CHEESE (CULTURED MILK, SALT, ENZYMES), SKIM MILK, MILKFAT, MILK, MILK PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, WHEY, CALCIUM PHOSPHATE, SODIUM PHOSPHATE, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF MODIFIED FOOD STARCH, SALT, LACTIC ACID, OLEORESIN PAPRIKA (COLOR), NATAMYCIN (A NATURAL MOLD INHIBITOR), ENZYMES, CHEESE CULTURE, ANNATTO (COLOR). CONTAINS: MILK.
Kraft Singles do not meet the requirements for the label "Pasteurized Process Cheese" because the percentage of milkfat from added dairy ingredients exceeds 5%. This led to a label change in 2002, when the FDA warned that Kraft could no longer use the "Pasteurized Process Cheese Food" label due to the inclusion of milk protein concentrate, which is not a permitted additive. As a result, Kraft changed the product's label to "'Pasteurized Prepared Cheese Product."
Kraft Singles are known for their gooey, melt-in-your-mouth texture and are often associated with American cheese. They were first introduced in the early 1940s and have become a staple in many American households, with about 40% of households in the United States still buying them today. Despite their popularity, some critics argue that Kraft Singles are not truly cheese because they contain less than 51% cheese.
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Kraft Singles contain less than 51% cheese
Kraft Singles, introduced in 1950, are a brand of processed cheese product manufactured and sold by Kraft Heinz. They are individually wrapped "slices" that are formed separately during manufacturing and are not slices off a block. While they may look and taste like cheese, Kraft Singles contain less than 51% cheese, and therefore cannot be legally classified as cheese.
The product is made from an amalgamation of pasteurized milk by-products, including milk protein concentrate, milk, skim milk, and milkfat. Other ingredients include whey, calcium phosphate, sodium phosphate, modified food starch, salt, lactic acid, oleo resin paprika (for color), natamycin (a natural mold inhibitor), enzymes, cheese culture, and annatto (color).
In 2002, the FDA warned Kraft that they could no longer use the label "Pasteurized Process Cheese Food" due to a formulation change that replaced some of the non-fat milk in the recipe with milk protein concentrate, which is not a permitted additive. Kraft complied with the FDA order and changed the label to "Pasteurized Prepared Cheese Product".
Despite the controversy, Kraft Singles remain popular, with around 40% of households in the United States continuing to buy them. The product is known for its convenience and its gooey, unreal cheese pull.
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Kraft Singles are individually wrapped
Kraft Singles are a brand of processed cheese product manufactured and sold by Kraft Heinz. They were introduced in 1950 as Kraft De Luxe Process Slices, but they were not individually wrapped until 1965. The formulation of Kraft Singles contains more than 5% milkfat from added dairy ingredients, disqualifying them from the "Pasteurized Process Cheese" labelling. This led to a change in the label to "Pasteurized Prepared Cheese Product".
The individual wrapping of Kraft Singles was introduced in 1956 by American engineer Arnold N. Nawrocki and the Clearfield Cheese Company, who revolutionized the product's packaging and marketing. This innovation led to Kraft Foods becoming synonymous with individually wrapped cheese slices.
Kraft Singles are not considered "cheese" as they contain less than 51% cheese. Instead, they are a processed amalgamation of pasteurized milk by-products, with added ingredients such as milk protein concentrate, enzymes, and cheese culture. Despite this, Kraft Singles are a popular product, with around 40% of households in the United States continuing to buy them.
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Kraft Singles are high in saturated fat
Kraft Singles are a brand of processed cheese product manufactured and sold by Kraft Heinz. They were introduced in 1950 as "Kraft De Luxe Process Slices" and have since become synonymous with individually wrapped cheese slices. However, it is important to note that Kraft Singles are not actually considered cheese, as they contain less than 51% cheese.
The product consists of an emulsion of fats and thickeners with cheese flavoring, and its high fat content, specifically saturated fat, has raised some health concerns. Each slice of Kraft Singles contains around 3.5 grams of fat, with fat comprising 62-65% of the total calories in the product. While this fat content is within the acceptable range for a well-balanced diet when consumed in moderation, excessive consumption of saturated fat can lead to elevated cholesterol levels in the blood, negatively impacting heart health.
The high fat and low protein content of Kraft Singles may make them less suitable for certain dietary preferences or requirements. For example, those following a ketogenic diet may need to avoid the product due to its higher carbohydrate content compared to most cheeses. Additionally, individuals prioritizing protein intake may need to supplement their diet with other protein-rich sources, as each slice of Kraft Singles only provides 3 grams of protein, which is relatively low compared to natural cheese.
Kraft Singles' nutritional profile has been a topic of discussion, with some highlighting the product's moderate fat content and its potential health implications. While the product's fat content is not exceptionally high, the type of fat present, predominantly saturated fat, is important to consider when evaluating its impact on overall health. As such, it is recommended to consume Kraft Singles in moderation as part of a balanced diet.
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Frequently asked questions
Kraft Singles are made of cheddar cheese (cultured milk, salt, enzymes), skim milk, milkfat, milk, milk protein concentrate, whey, calcium phosphate, sodium phosphate, modified food starch, salt, lactic acid, oleoresin paprika (colour), natamycin (a natural mould inhibitor), enzymes, cheese culture, and annatto (colour).
Kraft Singles are not legally considered cheese because they contain less than 51% cheese. They are a processed amalgamation of pasteurized milk by-products.
Kraft Singles contain between 40% and 51% cheese.
In Australia, Kraft's cheese products line was sold to Bega Cheese in 2017. Bega then switched the name of the product from "Kraft Singles" to "Dairylea Slices".
Kraft Singles were introduced in 1950 as "Kraft De Luxe Process Slices". They were not individually wrapped until 1965.
