Babybel's Signature: Unwrapping The Red Wax Mystery

Babybel is a brand of small, individually packaged snack cheese products from Le Groupe Bel, a company with French roots. The cheese is packaged in a distinctive red wax. The Original Mini Babybel, the most popular variety, is an Edam-style cheese made from pasteurised milk, rennet, lactic ferments, and salt. It is made using traditional Edam-making processes, but with rennet from vegetarian sources rather than animal sources. The red wax coating is used to protect the cheese from airborne bacteria, mould growth, and drying while it ages.

Babybel is a brand of small, individually packaged snack cheese products

The original and most popular Mini Babybel is an Edam-style cheese, made from pasteurised milk, rennet, lactic ferments, and salt. It is made using traditional Edam-making processes, but with rennet from vegetarian sources rather than animal sources. It is also naturally lactose-free. The cheese is packaged in a netted bag, with each piece encased in a blend of coloured paraffin and microcrystalline wax, inside a cellophane wrapper made of wood pulp, cotton, or other vegetation.

The red wax coating on Babybel cheese serves to protect the cheese from airborne bacteria, mould growth, and drying while it ages. This type of wax coating is often used on hard and semi-hard cheeses that only need a few months to age, such as Dutch Edam. The wax is food-safe, but it is not recommended to eat it as it will not taste good.

Babybel cheese is available in various flavours, including white cheddar, Monterey Jack, and gouda. The company has also expanded into plant-based cheese alternatives, which are certified plant-based, non-GMO, and vegan. These plant-based alternatives are made with a blend of coconut oil and starch and do not contain any milk.

The original Babybel is an Edam-style cheese

Babybel is a brand of small, individually packaged snack cheese products from Le Groupe Bel, a company with French roots. The original Babybel is an Edam-style cheese, made from pasteurised milk, rennet, lactic ferments, and salt. It is made using traditional Edam-making processes, with a few differences. For example, the rennet used in the original Babybel is sourced from vegetarian sources, rather than animal sources. It is also naturally lactose-free.

The original Babybel is a semi-soft cheese, with a creamy and tangy flavour. It is a popular snack, particularly for children, due to its convenient size and flavour. The cheese is wrapped in a blend of paraffin and microcrystalline wax, which helps to protect the cheese from drying out and prevents the growth of unwanted mould. The wax is food-safe, but it is not recommended to be eaten and should be peeled off before consuming the cheese.

The Babybel brand has since expanded its product line to include a variety of flavours and types of cheese, including white cheddar, Monterey Jack, and gouda. They have also introduced plant-based cheese alternatives, such as their plant-based white cheddar variety.

The unique packaging and flavour of the original Babybel have made it a popular snack option, often enjoyed straight from the fridge or as a lunchtime treat.

Babybel cheese is wrapped in wax to protect it from airborne bacteria, mould growth and drying out

Babybel cheese is a brand of small, individually packaged snack cheese products from Le Groupe Bel, a company with French roots. The cheese is known for its distinctive red wax coating, which is iconic and instantly recognisable. But why is Babybel cheese wrapped in wax?

The wax coating on Babybel cheese is made from a blend of natural waxes, including paraffin and microcrystalline wax. It is soft and pliable, which prevents it from cracking easily. This blend of waxes is food-safe, meeting strict regulatory standards, and poses no health risk if accidentally ingested. The wax is also recyclable and environmentally friendly.

In addition to its protective and practical functions, the red wax coating on Babybel cheese also serves an aesthetic purpose. The bright red colour adds a vibrant and playful element to the packaging, making it stand out on grocery store shelves and enhancing the overall experience of consuming the cheese.

The process of waxing Babybel cheese involves double-dipping the cheese wheels. First, they are dipped in clear wax to seal the cheese, and then they are dipped in the signature red wax. This double-dipping process provides extra protection and durability, ensuring that the cheese stays fresh and safe for consumption.

Babybel cheese is made by Le Groupe Bel, a company with roots in the Jura region of France

Le Groupe Bel is a family business with over 150 years of history and a major international player in the food industry. The company offers portioned products made from milk, fruit, and vegetables, aiming to provide healthier and more sustainable food options. They have strong local ties and rely on constantly evolving industrial facilities that are increasingly innovative and responsible. Bel wants to address societal and environmental issues with a new food model that positively impacts all generations.

The Babybel cheese itself is a brand of small, individually packaged snack cheese products. The original variety is a semi-soft cheese in the style of Edam, a semi-hard Dutch cheese traditionally wrapped in wax. Babybel has since expanded its line to include varieties such as white cheddar, Monterey Jack, gouda, and plant-based alternatives. The cheese is packaged in a distinctive red wax, which serves to protect the cheese and prevent unwanted mould from forming. While the wax is technically edible, it is not recommended for consumption.

Babybel cheese is designed to be a convenient and portable snack. The small cheese wheels are wrapped in wax and can be easily pulled apart and peeled to reveal the cheese inside. The product is targeted towards both children and adults as a fun and playful snack option. Babybel cheese is made with 100% real cow's milk and contains protein and no artificial colours, flavours, or preservatives. The brand has also released variety packs, which feature multiple flavours of Babybel cheese in a single package.

Babybel cheese is available in a variety of flavours, including white cheddar, Monterey Jack and gouda

Babybel cheese is a brand of small, individually packaged snack cheese products from Le Groupe Bel, a company with French roots. The cheese is packaged in a distinctive red wax coating. The original Babybel cheese is inspired by the Dutch recipe for Edam, a semi-hard cheese known for its wax wrapper.

Monterey Jack is a smooth, semi-hard cheese that originated in Monterey, California. It is made from cow's milk and is known for its mild, buttery flavour, pale yellow colour and firm yet supple texture. The Babybel variety is a young gouda with a mild, slightly nutty flavour.

Gouda is a Dutch cheese named after the city of Gouda. It is a pressed uncooked cheese with a semi-hard, smooth and creamy texture and a pale yellow colour. The flavour of gouda becomes more pronounced with ageing.

In addition to these varieties, Babybel also offers mozzarella, emmental, and plant-based cheese alternatives.

Frequently asked questions