Randy Chandler
In 2012, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) discovered that Castle Cheese Inc. in Pennsylvania had been adding wood pulp to their Parmesan cheese products for years. This sparked an investigation into the usage of cellulose, a common anti-clumping agent derived from wood pulp, in the cheese industry. While cellulose is permitted in these products, the accepted level is between 2 and 4 percent. However, tests on various brands of grated Parmesan cheese revealed higher levels of cellulose, with some products containing up to 9 percent cellulose. This has led to over 50 class-action lawsuits being filed against Parmesan producers, alleging consumer deception and false advertising.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of cellulose in Essential Everyday 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese | 8.8% |
| Percentage of cellulose in Great Value 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese | 7.8% |
| Percentage of cellulose in Whole Foods 365 brand | 0.2% or 0.3% |
| Percentage of cellulose in Kraft | 3.8% or up to 9% |
| Percentage of cellulose allowed in Parmesan cheese | 2-4% |
| Percentage of mislabelled Parmesan cheese in the U.S. | 20% |
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What You'll Learn
The FDA's investigation into wood pulp in Parmesan cheese
In 2012, the FDA received an anonymous tip that Castle Cheese Inc., a Pennsylvania-based company, was selling cheese products that were not as they seemed. The FDA then paid a surprise visit to Castle Cheese's factory in rural Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania. The investigation revealed that Castle Cheese was processing, labelling, and selling misbranded food. The company was found to be "cutting" its 100% Real Parmesan Cheese product with cheaper cheese substitutes and fillers such as wood pulp, also known as cellulose, a common anti-clumping agent.
The FDA's findings sparked widespread skepticism across the US cheese market, with consumers questioning the accuracy of product labelling. This controversy led to a three-year legal battle for Michelle Myrter, President of Castle Cheese, Inc. The company filed for bankruptcy shortly after the FDA's findings came to public attention in 2013, and Myrter was expected to plead guilty to charges of misbranding food.
Bloomberg conducted independent tests on store-bought grated cheese to test for wood pulp content. The results revealed that many cheeses contained cellulose, with varying percentages across different brands. Essential Everyday 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese from Jewel-Osco contained 8.8% cellulose, while Great Value 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese from Walmart had 7.8% cellulose. Even brands that did not list cellulose as an ingredient, such as Whole Foods, were found to have traces of cellulose, with 0.3% of the filler in their product. Kraft, another popular brand, was found to have 3.8% cellulose, and while other brands said they were investigating the matter, Kraft stated they were "committed to the quality of our products."
The FDA's investigation into Castle Cheese and the subsequent findings highlight the importance of accurate labelling and consumer protection. While cellulose is a permitted additive in cheese products, exceeding accepted levels and mislabelling ingredients is considered consumer fraud. This incident has brought attention to the need for stricter criteria and regulations for cheese labelling, particularly for products claiming to be "100% Parmesan."
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Castle Cheese Inc. and other companies' mislabelling
In 2012, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began an investigation into Castle Cheese Inc., a Pennsylvania-based company, after receiving a tip-off about the company adding wood pulp to their 100% Parmesan cheese products. The FDA discovered that Castle Cheese Inc. was not only mislabelling its products but also mixing lower-quality cheeses with additives, including cellulose derived from wood pulp, to bulk up their grated cheese. This investigation brought to light a broader issue of mislabelling in the cheese market, with other companies also being implicated in similar practices.
The FDA's inspection of Castle Cheese Inc. revealed that the company was processing, labelling, and selling misbranded food. The company was found to have been "cutting" their 100% Parmesan cheese products with cheaper cheese substitutes and fillers such as wood pulp. These products were then shipped across the US to major grocery retailers. The FDA's findings sparked widespread skepticism and concern among consumers about the authenticity and quality of grated Parmesan cheese.
Michelle Myrter, the president and co-owner of Castle Cheese Inc., faced legal consequences for the company's actions. She pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy and misdemeanour aiding and abetting, carrying a sentence of up to a year in prison and a $100,000 fine. Castle Cheese Inc. filed for bankruptcy shortly after the FDA's findings came to public attention in 2013. The company closed in 2014, and future FDA inspections aimed to further assess the situation and ensure accountability in the cheese industry.
The investigation into Castle Cheese Inc. and the subsequent revelations about mislabelling in the cheese market highlighted the need for transparency and regulation in food products. Consumers expect high-quality and authentic products, and the compromise of a recognised name like Parmesan cheese emphasised the importance of food safety and accurate labelling practices. The FDA's ongoing efforts to address fraudulent practices and ensure consumer trust in the industry are crucial for maintaining the integrity of food products.
The issue of mislabelling in the cheese industry extends beyond Castle Cheese Inc., with estimates suggesting that up to 20% of grated Parmesan cheese on the market may be misbranded. Bloomberg's experiments on store-bought grated cheese found varying percentages of cellulose in different brands, with Essential Everyday 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese from Jewel-Osco containing 8.8% cellulose, Great Value 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese from Walmart at 7.8%, Whole Foods with 0.3%, and Kraft at 3.8%. These findings underscore the importance of consumer awareness and the need for clear standards and regulations in the food industry to protect consumers from fraudulent practices.
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The use of cellulose as an anti-clumping agent
Cellulose, derived from plant walls, is a fiber that can be extracted from wood and apple pulp, corn cobs, or even asparagus. In the context of cheese, it serves as an anti-caking or anti-clumping agent, ensuring that shredded cheese flows smoothly and does not clump together. While it has been approved by the FDA as a safe and legal food additive for nearly five decades, the controversy stems from the improper labelling of cheese products. Consumers expect transparency and accuracy in food labelling, especially when purchasing products labelled as "100% Parmesan."
The addition of cellulose to Parmesan cheese is primarily driven by two factors. Firstly, cellulose acts as a cost-saving measure for manufacturers. Parmesan cheese is notoriously expensive, while cellulose is a cheap alternative. By mixing Parmesan with cellulose, companies can increase their profit margins by selling a larger volume of product at a lower cost. Secondly, cellulose adds bulk and mimics the characteristics of luxurious foods without contributing additional calories or fat. This makes it attractive to manufacturers looking to enhance the mouthfeel and texture of their products.
The percentage of cellulose in Parmesan cheese products varies across different brands. Tests have revealed varying levels of cellulose content, with Essential Everyday 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese from Jewel-Osco containing 8.8% cellulose, Great Value 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese from Walmart at 7.8%, and Kraft at 3.8%. Even brands that do not list cellulose as an ingredient, such as Whole Foods, have been found to contain trace amounts of cellulose, at 0.3%. While the FDA has set a limit of 4% cellulose in cheese products, some consumers and experts argue that any amount of cellulose in products labelled as "100% Parmesan" is misleading and unethical.
The controversy surrounding the use of cellulose in Parmesan cheese highlights the importance of accurate labelling and transparency in the food industry. While cellulose may not pose significant health risks, consumers have a right to know the exact composition of the products they are purchasing. This incident has led to increased scrutiny of food labelling practices and a heightened awareness among consumers about the potential presence of fillers and substitutes in their food products.
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The legal battle over false advertising
In 2012, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) received an anonymous tip-off about Castle Cheese Inc., a Pennsylvania-based company. The FDA then paid a surprise visit to the company's cheese factory in rural Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania.
The FDA's investigation found that Castle Cheese was cutting their 100% Real Parmesan Cheese product with cut-rate cheese substitutes and fillers such as wood pulp. Castle Cheese then shipped their cheeses across the U.S. to some of the largest grocery retailers in the country.
Michelle Myrter, President of Castle Cheese, Inc., has faced a 3-year legal battle following the FDA's findings, which came to public attention in 2013. Shortly after the FDA's findings were made public, Castle Cheese filed for bankruptcy. It is expected that Myrter will plead guilty to charges of misbranding food. She faces steep fines and up to a year in prison.
In 2018, a federal judge in Chicago granted a motion to dismiss a consolidated block of class-action lawsuits against Kraft Heinz, Jewel-Osco parent company Albertsons, and other defendants. The judge ruled that the plaintiff's claims were "doomed by the readily accessible ingredient panels on the products that disclose the presence of non-cheese ingredients." However, the legal battle may not be finished, as plaintiffs in the lawsuit have until September 14 to file an amended complaint.
In late 2020, a previous verdict from 2018, which had found that labeling products as '100% grated Parmesan cheese' while including other ingredients like cellulose was legal, was overturned. The full repercussions for the cheese companies involved are still pending.
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The percentage of cellulose in Parmesan cheese products
In 2016, the FDA cracked down on companies that were falsely selling 100% Parmesan cheese. It was found that some companies were adding wood pulp to their products and advertising them as 100% grated Romano or Parmesan. One such company was Castle Cheese, Inc., a Pennsylvania-based company that had been adding wood pulp to their products for years.
Wood pulp, also known as cellulose, is an anti-clumping agent that is derived from plant fiber. While it is safe to consume and has no known harmful side effects, it is still misleading to consumers who are paying a premium for these products.
Bloomberg ran experiments to test for wood pulp content in store-bought grated cheese and found varying percentages of cellulose in different brands. Essential Everyday 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese from Jewel-Osco contained 8.8% cellulose, while Great Value 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese from Walmart had 7.8%. Even Whole Foods, which did not list cellulose as an ingredient, had 0.3% of the filler, and Kraft had 3.8%.
According to a cheese expert, some cellulose is acceptable in the 2% to 4% range to prevent clumping. However, many of the tested brands fell outside of this range, indicating that they may be using more cellulose than necessary.
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Frequently asked questions
The percentage varies depending on the brand. Essential Everyday 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese from Jewel-Osco contains 8.8% cellulose, while Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s Great Value 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese contains 7.8% cellulose. Kraft has 3.8% cellulose, and Whole Foods has 0.3% cellulose.
Wood pulp, also known as cellulose, is added to grated Parmesan cheese as an anti-clumping agent. While cellulose is permitted in these products, the accepted level is between 2 and 4%.
No, cellulose is found in all plant material and is a source of dietary fiber. It is also added to food products as a preservative to extend shelf life.
While it is not illegal to add cellulose to food products, there have been numerous lawsuits filed against Parmesan producers alleging consumer deception and false advertising. In 2018, a federal court dismissed these cases, stating that the front-label modifier of "100% grated Parmesan cheese" was ambiguous and that any confusion could be cleared by reading the ingredient list.
