Bloomburg News had store-bought grated cheese tested for wood pulp, and here’s what they found (keep in mind that a safe amount of cellulose is considered to be 2-4%): Essential Everyday 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese, from Jewel-Osco, was 8.8% cellulose. Olive oil is often mixed with sunflower oil and sold as "extra virgin." The Truth: Don’t believe headlines that claim wood pulp is added to Parmesan cheese. Food & Wine is part of the Meredith Corporation Allrecipes Food Group. The sub-par yet finished products were distributed to some of the largest grocery chains in the U.S. By By Roberto A. Ferdman Feb 17, 2016 at 5:15 PM In fact, some grated cheeses sold as "100 percent parmesan" contain no parmesan at all - but they do contain a fair chunk of harmless wood pulp, according to independent analysis. He adds it’s not as common in shredded cheese, where it would be easier to see. By Greg Trotter. Wood Pulp in Parmesan Cheese – Pulp Fact and Fiction! This isn't a new thing that the Internet is freaking out about, but, if you're like us and can't live without cheese, you might be panicking. The FDA, reportedly acting on a tip, paid a surprise visit to a cheese factory in rural Pennsylvania to find that Castle Cheese Inc. was altering its “100% real Parmesan” with substitutes and fillers such as wood pulp, and distributing the cheese to some of America’s biggest food chains. Chicago Tribune | Aug 29, 2017 at 3:54 PM . 2:42. Somehow, Parmesan cheese advertised as 100 percent Parmesan appears to be including wood pulp and other cheese, unbeknownst to us. In packaged shredded cheese, cellulose is used to coat the pieces of cheese, blocking out the moisture that causes them to clump. The FDA has found that one company’s supposedly 100 percent parmesan cheese actually contained substitutes – including a form of wood pulp. The Wall Street Journal took a closer look at this popular food additive — made from wood pulp or other plant fibers — and the many roles it plays in the packaged foods we eat. EEEEEEEEEEEEK – there’s wood pulp in my cheese!!!!! Wood Pulp Fillers in Parmesan Cheese Spark Class Action Suits Author: Cassie Perez Walmart is facing allegations of deceptive business practices and material misrepresentation after it was discovered that its store-brand Parmesan cheese product – Great Value 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese – contained an unacceptably high percentage of wood pulp as a filler. So though the old adage is “read the label,” for consumers, that might not do much. In addition, the facility was adding cellulose, or wood pulp (this was the sensational news headline part) to extend the cheese. The fallout over the ongoing Parmesan scandal in the U.S. continues into a second week with a lawsuit filed Tuesday against Walmart, alleging the giant retailer deceived customers by labeling its Great Value brand as “100% grated Parmesan cheese” when independent analysis shows the product contained upwards of 10 percent cellulose—aka wood pulp. An FDA investigation found that a Pennsylvania company, Castle Cheese Inc., had doctored its so-called "Parmesan" with a mix of cheap cheddar cheese and cellulose (also known as wood pulp). A slow cooker can can take your comfort food to the next level. © Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. Bloomberg News had store-bought grated cheese tested for wood-pulp content by an independent laboratory … Essential Everyday 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese, from … Our 22 Best Crock Pot and Slow-Cooker Recipes, All Hail Cheese, Ancient Food of the Gods, The Not-So-American History of Cheez Whiz, The Real Story of the Huge Chunk of Cheese that Sat in the White House for Years. There's good news and bad news about the revelation that a supposed 100-percent Parmesan cheese was adulterated with cellulose—a filler often made from wood pulp. Instead, the cheese was made up of Swiss, mozzarella, and cheddar cheese; plus cellulose, which is made from wood pulp, and stops cheese from clumping. The best bet is probably to buy actual parmesan cheese and grate it yourself. This follows a report by Bloomberg Business that found high amounts of cellulose, a powder derived from wood pulp, in Jewel Osco’s Essential Everyday 100% grated parmesan cheese. So, wood pulp isn’t added to Parmesan cheese — a sugar molecule extracted from wood pulp is. Looking to amp up your beef stew but unsure where to start? Instead, it found cellulose and a mixture of lower-quality cheeses, like Swiss, Mozzarella, and white Cheddar in the products sold to major retailers: Target's Market Pantry brand 100% grated Parmesan Cheese (though Target claims Castle has never been an authorized vendor); Always Save Grated Parmesan Cheese; and Best Choice 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese. All the hype and outrage comes on the heels of an FDA investigation, which found that certain brands of Parmesan contain up to 8.8% cellulose—aka wood … The grocery store parmesan cheese in the green-topped plastic container you shake over pasta dishes contains non-dairy filler ingredients like wood pulp, according to a report from Bloomberg. “Consumers are innocent, and they’re not getting what they bargained for. You may have seen a lot of hype about there being wood pulp in Parmesan. The former president plead guilty to FDA violations, and shortly after the company filed for bankruptcy. “The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned that products labeled ‘100% Parmesan’ might actually contain cheese substitutes like wood pulp” claimed Time. Walmart is facing allegations of deceptive business practices and material misrepresentation after it was discovered that its store-brand Parmesan cheese product – Great Value 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese – contained an unacceptably high percentage of wood pulp as a filler. If you aren’t already avoiding low-fa… They uncovered proof that Castle Cheese Inc. was altering its so-called “100 percent real P armesan cheese” with fillers, mainly wood pulp. A package of Kraft Parmesan cheese is … Much wood should Grated Parmesan should have wood creaminess when the average increase! Test centered around the presence of cellulose, also known as wood,. 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