Here's the thing though...the ingredient list of the substitute cheese reads as follows:
INGREDIENTS: SOY BASE (FILTERED WATER, ISOLATED SOY PROTEIN), CASEIN* (A DRIED SKIM MILK PROTEIN), CANOLA OIL, SORBITOL, ENZYMEMODIFIED CHEESE FLAVOR* (CULTURED MILK, SALT, ENZYMES, CALCIUM CHLORIDE), CONTAINS 2 PERCENT OR LESS OF SALT, SODIUM ALUMINUM PHOSPHATE, SODIUM PHOSPHATE, BUTTERFAT*, NATURAL FLAVOR, TRICALCIUM PHOSPHATE, DRIED YEAST, SORBIC ACID (PRESERVATIVE), ACETIC ACID, VITAMIN A PALMITATE, VITAMIN C, FERRIC ORTHOPHOSPHATE, VITAMIN B12, CARAMEL COLOR, VITAMIN D3, FOLIC ACID, VITAMIN B6, RIBOFLAVIN (VITAMIN B2), VITAMIN E, POTATO STARCH AND POWDERED CELLULOSE TO PREVENT CAKING, NATAMYCIN (A NATURAL MOLD INHIBITOR). *ADDS A TRIVIAL AMOUNT OF CHOLESTEROL & LACTOSE.
So my first thing is I don't really get the point of this "cheese". The vegetarians I know eat cheese. The vegans (who eat no animal products) would turn this item down because of the casein, cultured milk in the flavoring and butterfat. Those who have milk allergies or sensitivities would also not want the casein and cultured milk. And I just don't get why anyone would think an extensive list of chemicals with some vitamins added in would be healthier than actual...you know, cheese. If you want to get really picky, organic cheese from a local dairy--but still, cheese. So there are vitamins added in. There are vitamins added in to cereals too, but that doesn't make them healthy. (Don't get me wrong, I crave, and eat, Lucky Charms like crazy when I'm pregnant...I just don't fool myself into thinking it's healthy). Am I missing something? I rank this right up there with "the stuff that cheese eats" which is how Josh and I refer to all those "cheeze" products that are shelf stable and often labeled "processed cheese food".
3 comments:
I would say no to it because of the sorbitol. It can't be that good for you. I'm glad I still eat real cheese. :)
No, that definitely doesn't look better for you nutrition wise than regular cheese. Unless you're one of those that thinks fortified cereal counts as your vitamins for the day. I'm still recovering from this mindset myself.
And I seriously doubt that this product is "better than cheese" in taste either. Having tried several vegan cheeses, all I can say is ick. Although admittedly, we were avoiding casein entirely, so we would not have tried the one listed here.
The only one we found that tasted, smelled and melted anything like real cheese starts with a T and rhymes with cheese and has this as the ingredient list:
organic soymilk (filtered water, organic non-gmo soybeans), corn maltodextrin, non-hydrogenated vegetable oil blend, salt, carrageenan, vegan natural flavors, corn-derived lactic acid (vegan), natural vegan color.
Can't get away from the corn. But when you can't have casein at all, this is about as pure as it gets as far as "cheese" ingredients. It's light on the chemicals.
Of course this is not available locally, so we've had to go with another brand - which tastes like cheese, melts just Ok, and smells chemically. Wrap it up in a pepperoni roll and ds doesn't notice. It's also soy free, which the doc says is better, and it comes pre-shredded (bonus!). It starts with a D, rhymes with Maya (I think), and has the following ingredients:
Filtered water, tapioca and/or arrowroot flours, non-GMO expeller pressed canola and /or non-GMO expeller pressed safflower oil, coconut oil, pea protein, salt, vegan natural flavours, inactive yeast, vegetable glycerin, xanthan gum, citric acid (for flavor).
Still contains corn - Xanthan gum, citric acid, probably vegan natural flavours and vegetable glycerin. But I can pronounce everything, and also seems pretty chemical free to me.
All in all, I'd say either of those would be a better choice nutritionally and are totally vegan. If you're just looking for vegetarian, real cheese all the way. Nothing is the same as real cheese.
No, I don't think you're missing anything. Many companies trying to cater to allergic individuals seem to think the answer is chemicals to mimic the allergen. We're trying to steer clear of those. There are also lots of companies who realize that most ppl trying to avoid allergens actually want to eat healthy foods that aren't full of chemicals. So if you look, they are out there, and even available in a not-so-big town like mine. I was going to say ours, but you went and moved on me. :P
Is that the longest "comment" ever or what?
And I forgot to say sorbitol and my system just do not agree, so that "cheese" would be a no go for me right there.
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