Frederic Melton
Babybel cheese is famous for its red wax coating, which is not unique to the brand, but is used to protect the cheese from airborne bacteria, mould growth and drying while it ages. The wax is made of a blend of paraffin and microcrystalline waxes and colouring, which specifically contains no bisphenol A. It’s “food safe” and poses no health risk if accidentally ingested.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Main ingredients | Paraffin wax, microcrystalline wax, colouring |
| Additional ingredients | No Bisphenol A (BPA) |
| Purpose | Protects the cheese from airborne bacteria, mould growth and drying while it ages |
| Consistency | Soft and pliable |
| Safety | Food safe, meets strict regulatory standards, poses no health risk if accidentally ingested |
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What You'll Learn
- Babybel cheese is coated in a blend of paraffin and microcrystalline waxes
- The wax is food safe and poses no health risk if accidentally ingested
- The wax is used to protect the cheese from airborne bacteria, mould growth and drying while it ages
- The wax is soft and pliable, unlike pure paraffin wax which becomes brittle and cracks easily
- Babybel uses two layers of wax, with the inner surface likely being PVA
Babybel cheese is coated in a blend of paraffin and microcrystalline waxes
The wax is "food safe" and meets strict regulatory standards. It poses no health risk if accidentally ingested. In addition to paraffin and microcrystalline wax, the coating also contains colouring, which specifically contains no Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical compound often used in plastic food packaging.
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The wax is food safe and poses no health risk if accidentally ingested
Babybel cheese is known for its red wax coating, which is made of a blend of paraffin and microcrystalline waxes and colouring. The wax is food safe and poses no health risk if accidentally ingested. It meets very strict regulatory standards. The wax is used to protect the cheese from airborne bacteria, mould growth and drying while it ages. It also helps the cheese last for well over a week when stored in the refrigerator.
The wax coating is not unique to Babybel cheese, with a variety of other hard and semi-hard cheeses making use of the bright-coloured wax. Coating cheese using food-grade wax is often a method used on other hard and semi-hard cheeses that only need a few months to age. Babybel's wax is red, or green for its vegan cheese.
The wax is soft and pliable, unlike pure paraffin wax which becomes brittle, causing it to crack easily. According to one source, the inner surface of the wax is probably PVA (essentially wood glue).
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The wax is used to protect the cheese from airborne bacteria, mould growth and drying while it ages
Babybel cheese is known for its distinctive red wax coating, which is made of a blend of paraffin and microcrystalline waxes and colouring. The wax is used to protect the cheese from airborne bacteria, mould growth and drying while it ages. It is soft and pliable, unlike pure paraffin wax, which becomes brittle and cracks easily. This protective coating means that Babybel cheese can be stored unrefrigerated at room temperature for several hours. The wax is "food safe", meeting strict regulatory standards, and poses no health risk if accidentally ingested.
Babybel is not the only cheese to be coated in wax. A variety of other hard and semi-hard cheeses are packaged in a similar way, and wax is often used on cheeses that only need a few months to age. The wax coating is applied in two layers, with the inner surface possibly being PVA (essentially wood glue). The wax is also used on Babybel's vegan cheese, which is coated in green wax rather than red.
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The wax is soft and pliable, unlike pure paraffin wax which becomes brittle and cracks easily
Babybel cheese is known for its red wax coating, which is made of a blend of paraffin and microcrystalline waxes and colouring. The wax is soft and pliable, unlike pure paraffin wax which becomes brittle and cracks easily. This is because the wax is designed to protect the cheese from airborne bacteria, mould growth and drying while it ages. It also helps the cheese last for well over a week when stored in the refrigerator.
The wax coating on Babybel cheese is "food safe" and meets strict regulatory standards. It poses no health risk if accidentally ingested. In fact, the wax is so safe that it is even used on the company's vegan cheese, which is coated in green wax rather than red.
While the red wax coating is iconic, it is not unique to Babybel cheese. A variety of other hard and semi-hard cheeses make use of brightly coloured wax coatings.
Babybel uses two layers of wax, with the inner surface likely being PVA
Babybel cheese is famous for its red wax coating, which is made of a blend of paraffin and microcrystalline waxes and colouring. This wax is used to protect the cheese from airborne bacteria, mould growth and drying while it ages. It also helps the cheese last for well over a week when stored in the refrigerator.
The wax coating is "food safe" and meets strict regulatory standards. It poses no health risk if accidentally ingested. It is also free from Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical compound often used in plastic food packaging.
Frequently asked questions
The wax on Babybel cheese is made of a blend of paraffin and microcrystalline waxes and colouring, which specifically contains no bisphenol A.
Babybel cheese is wrapped in wax to protect it from airborne bacteria, mould growth and drying while it ages.
Yes, Babybel cheese wax is “food safe”, meets very strict regulatory standards and poses no health risk if accidentally ingested.
A variety of other hard and semi-hard cheeses use wax for packaging, including vegan cheese, which is coated in green wax.
Yes, Babybel cheese can be stored unrefrigerated at room temperature (20 degrees Celsius) for several hours, thanks to its protective wax shell.
