Government Cheese: Understanding Its Unique, Standardized Flavor

Government cheese is a term used to refer to the commodity cheese that was distributed by the US government in the 1980s. The cheese was produced with federal funds during a volatile period of milk production in the 1980s recession. It was distributed to welfare beneficiaries, food stamp recipients, the elderly, and organisations serving them. Government cheese was also given to victims of natural disasters. The cheese was described as having a texture similar to Velveeta, with a colour of pale orange, and came in five-pound blocks. It was made from a variety of cheese types, including cheddar, Colby, cheese curd, or granular cheese, blended with other ingredients such as emulsifiers.

Government cheese was a result of the US government's attempt to stabilise dairy prices in the 1970s

In the 1970s, Americans faced a crisis of unprecedented shortages of dairy products. In 1973, dairy prices shot up by 30% as the price of other foods inflated. The government's intervention caused prices to fall drastically, and dairy farmers were struggling.

In 1977, under President Jimmy Carter, the government set a new subsidy policy, pouring $2 billion into the dairy industry over the next four years. This decision aimed to motivate production and alleviate the crisis. Dairy farmers, knowing that the government would likely purchase their surplus, began producing as much milk as possible. As a result, by the early 1980s, the government had accumulated over 500 million pounds of cheese, which was converted into cheese due to its longer shelf life.

The huge stockpile of cheese posed a problem for the government, which had no idea what to do with it. The conundrum became public when Agriculture Secretary John R. Block displayed a five-pound block of moulding cheese at a White House event, stating that there were 60 million such blocks owned by the government, and they were deteriorating.

Facing criticism and with hungry Americans suffering from the recession, President Ronald Reagan eventually relented and ordered the distribution of the cheese to the needy. In December 1981, the Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program was created, handing out blocks of processed cheese to the elderly, low-income individuals, and organisations serving them.

"Government cheese" became a part of American culture, referenced in songs by Kendrick Lamar and Jay-Z. It evoked mixed emotions, with some grateful for the assistance and others disliking how it advertised their socioeconomic status. The cheese was described as having a pungent smell and a texture suitable for grilled cheese sandwiches and macaroni.

The government's involvement in the cheese business ended in the 1990s when dairy prices stabilised. However, the issue of dairy surpluses and government intervention in the dairy market has resurfaced in recent years, with the government again stockpiling cheese due to declining consumption and trade disputes.

The cheese was distributed to welfare beneficiaries, food stamp recipients, and the elderly

In the early 1980s, the US government distributed around 300 million pounds of cheese that had been produced with federal funds. This cheese, known as "government cheese", was distributed to welfare beneficiaries, food stamp recipients, and the elderly.

The story of government cheese began in 1949, when the Agricultural Act of 1949 gave the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), a government-owned corporation dedicated to stabilising farm incomes, the authority to purchase dairy products like cheese from farmers. The CCC had been created during the Great Depression as part of the New Deal's attempt to stabilise prices and help farmers.

In the 1970s, the US faced a dairy shortage, with dairy prices shooting up by 30%. The government intervened, resulting in prices falling drastically. In 1977, President Jimmy Carter decided to invest in the dairy industry to motivate production and alleviate the crisis. The government set a new policy to subsidise dairy, providing $2 billion to the industry over the next four years.

This plan primed farmers for overproduction. Farmers who had previously been struggling were now motivated to produce as much dairy as they could, knowing that whatever they didn't sell could likely be purchased by the government. By the early 1980s, the government owned over 500 million pounds of cheese. The dairy product was converted to cheese because it has a longer shelf life than other dairy products.

In 1981, Secretary of Agriculture John R. Block showed up at the White House with a moulding five-pound block of cheese and told reporters, "We've got 60 million of these that the government owns... It's mouldy, it's deteriorating... we can't find a market for it, we can't sell it, and we're looking to give some of it away."

As the public became aware of the surplus cheese, they began to criticise President Ronald Reagan, who had been elected on a platform of reducing federal welfare programs. There were still hungry Americans suffering from the effects of the recession. So, in December 1981, Reagan announced that 30 million pounds of cheese from the stockpile would be distributed to the elderly, low-income people, and organisations that served them through the Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP).

Government cheese became associated with hard times. While some were grateful, others hated the way it advertised their socioeconomic status. Today, some recall the cheese fondly, while others remember it less favourably.

It was also given to food banks and churches

In the early 1980s, the US government had accumulated over 500 million pounds of cheese, stored in hundreds of warehouses across 35 states. The cheese was produced with federal funds and had been purchased from dairy farmers to stabilise farm incomes and alleviate a national dairy shortage. However, the government was unable to sell the cheese and it began to deteriorate.

In 1981, President Ronald Reagan ordered the distribution of this cheese to welfare beneficiaries, food stamp recipients, the elderly receiving social security, as well as food banks and churches. This was done through the Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), which gave away the cheese for free to those in need.

The cheese was given to people at food banks and community centres, as well as churches, where it could be picked up for free. This program ensured that the cheese reached those who needed it, including the elderly, low-income individuals, and organisations that served them.

The cheese became known as "government cheese" and was a mix of processed cheese and dehydrated milk powder, designed to have a long shelf life. It had a distinctive pale orange colour and came in five-pound blocks. While some were grateful for this source of food, others disliked how it advertised their socioeconomic status and was associated with hard times.

Today, the US government continues to distribute cheese to those in need through various programs, and it remains a reminder of the complex interplay between agriculture, politics, and social welfare in the United States.

Government cheese was often mouldy due to storage difficulties

Government cheese, which was distributed to the public in the 1980s, was often mouldy due to storage difficulties. The cheese was stored in underground cellars, converted limestone mines, and caves kept at an exact 36°F. Maintaining the correct temperature for such large quantities of cheese was a challenge, and the cheese often spoiled. The cheese was also stored in large warehouses across the country, and the sheer volume of cheese made it difficult to ensure proper ventilation and prevent mould growth.

The cheese was produced as part of a government scheme to support dairy farmers by maintaining the prices of their milk products. The government bought surplus milk and converted it into cheese, which has a longer shelf life than milk. However, the scheme resulted in a massive surplus of cheese, with the government owning over 500 million pounds of cheese by the early 1980s. The cheese was stored in hundreds of warehouses in 35 states.

The storage and distribution of government cheese were handled by the Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). The program faced significant challenges due to the large volume of cheese and the lack of adequate storage facilities. The cheese was delivered to each state and then sent to various warehouses and community centers for free pickup by eligible individuals.

The mouldy cheese became a public issue when Agriculture Secretary John R. Block displayed a five-pound block of mouldy cheese at a White House event, stating: "We've got 60 million of these that the government owns. It's mouldy, it's deteriorating... we can't find a market for it, we can't sell it, and we're looking to try to give some of it away." This incident brought attention to the issues of food waste and the challenges of storing and distributing large quantities of perishable food items.

The mouldy government cheese had a significant impact on public perception. While some people recalled the cheese fondly, associating it with comfort foods like macaroni and cheese or grilled cheese sandwiches, others disliked the texture and taste. For many, the cheese became a symbol of poverty and hard times, as it was primarily distributed to low-income individuals and families. The cheese's distinctive flavour and texture made it memorable, whether loved or hated, and it has even been referenced in popular culture, such as songs by Kendrick Lamar and Jay-Z.

The cheese is referenced in songs by Jay-Z and Kendrick Lamar

Government cheese was distributed to low-income families in the 1980s and 1990s as part of the Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program. It was a product of price support programs for farmers enacted in the 1930s, which saw the US government begin to stockpile dairy products. By the 1980s, the stockpiles were so large that storing them became too expensive. The Reagan administration decided to distribute free processed cheese to the poor.

The cheese was packaged and distributed by the federal government and sent to various warehouses and community centres for free pick-up. It was also reserved for victims of natural disasters.

Government cheese holds a prominent place in the memories of its former consumers. It is a historical poverty symbol that has vanished from the pantry, and it continues to be referenced in popular culture, including music and comedy sketches.

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