It has been so good at doing so many things for so long - over 800 years - that it has earned the nickname in the dairy industry, “The King of Cheeses.”. Not only is this vegan parmesan cheese a delicious topping for pasta, a chopped Italian Salad, Roasted Brussels Sprouts, or avocado toast, but it requires just 5 ingredients, comes together in mere minutes, and has virtually no clean-up. So it was high time we took a trip to the store and tested all the big brands of cheddar we could find. Sure, we like fancy cheese. As we are increasingly discovering in the form of a global health epidemic linked heavily to diet, there is a lot of truth to the old saying “You are what you eat.” There is a similar saying attributed to high-level athletes looking for maximum performance: “Garbage in, garbage out.”. The Violife range is free from dairy, preservatives, casein, lactose, gluten, nuts and soy. Like Champagno or Michigen Cherries or real Vermoont Maple Syrup? Like Parmigiano-Reggiano, Kobe Beef producers have both copyrights and trademarks protecting different aspects of their name and brand in Japan, but the U.S., which has a long, rich history of pirating other nation’s proprietary foodstuffs, conveniently refuses to recognize these, leaving the playing field open for deception. Whole Foods 365 brand didn’t list cellulose as an ingredient, and tested at 0.3 percent. The much bigger problem are the wedges of faux Parmigiano-Reggiano cheeses sold even at higher end supermarkets, gourmet stores, cheese specific shops and the high-priced national retailers purporting sell purer, better-for-you foods. Are all these cheeses also named for Parma or merely a coincidence? People are always surprised to learn this and say “but Champagne has to be made in France,” which is generally true throughout the civilized world except here. They are generally pale yellow in color, and usually used grated on dishes like spaghetti, Caesar salad, and pizza. Wal-Mart Stores Inc.’s Great Value 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese had 7.8 percent cellulose. Discover our wide range of award-winning vegan alternative to cheese that can help you dive effortlessly into a plant based diet. Recent studies showing that in cities like LA and NY, restaurants and stores - as many as half of them - routinely substitute cheaper species of seafood for those ordered, or farmed for those sold as wild caught. We always knew this to be the case, but did not know why until food science isolated the taste “umami,” which gives a huge flavor kick to many dishes. It is always ultra-fresh for cheesemaking. Parma! In fact, the fake Parmesan cheese industry has gone as far as including wood pulp in the cheese. Many Americans think variations of the names Parmigiano or Reggiano are brand names but there is actually a specific region in Italy called Parmigiano-Reggiano. … I tweet @TravelFoodGuy, © 2021 Forbes Media LLC. We’re sharing our thoughts on all eight cheeses, as well as our favorite national brand of cheddar in the bunch. Even what the cows eat is well documented, with no silage, ever, a diet consisting primarily of vegetation grown in the same carefully delineated Parmigiano-Reggiano region. Olive oil is tampered with in a lot of ways so distributors can make money. Olive Oil. Yet all three are in Kraft 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese (I’m not sure if that means it is supposed to be 100% “parmesan” or simply 100% grated, which it certainly is). As a travel and food writer, I hear people all the time who are amazed at how good the simplest foods in Italy are - and they are right. It's easy to tell real Parmigiano-Reggiano when you can see a piece of the rind, because it is... [+] embossed with its name over and over. While you can buy pre-grated real Parmigiano-Reggiano at some gourmet stores, if you decided to save labor and buy grated, there is an even bigger chance you got the imitation stuff. I have, I am the NY Times Bestselling author of Real Food, Fake Food and have been traveling the world as a journalist and passionate fan of all things fun for 20 years. They call it “authentic Parmesan.” Why would you buy anything but? Most recently, I looked closely here at Forbes.com at the fake fish issue. It remains perfectly legal to manufacture sparkling wine in this country and label it simply Champagne, not method champenoise, not New York Champagne, not California sparkling wine, but Champagne, just as they do in France. Cheddar cheese is a go-to snack, but it also has a well-deserved place in grilled cheese sandwiches, macaroni and cheese, nachos, chili, and so much more. The good news is, they got caught, pled guilty, served three years of probation, paid fines, and are now defunct (via Inc.com ). Advertisement. Parmigiano-Reggiano does not have it this bad, as it is widely imported into this country, and its full Italian name is protected (but only fairly recently) here. Delightfully Yours Parmesan Cheese Crisps- Original Flavor (4 Pack) - Parmesan Crisps - Cheese Crisps Low Carb Keto - Parmesan Chips Made Of Just Cheese - Keto Cheese Crisps - Cheese … The most expensive cheese in our tasting was a domestic one selling for $15.99/lb, with most of the others priced between $9.99 and $12.98 per pound; the imported Parmigiano-Reggiano cost $11/lb. If you love the rich nutty flavor of parmesan cheese, but you’re looking for a vegan substitute, then you’re in luck! Well, it’s not so much about the cow as the place. The non-DOP Parmesan cheese doesn’t have a brand. Here are our favorite brands. It is wonderful by itself in chunks, shaved over or grated into foods, cooked or uncooked. (Best for Pasta) Due to its long fermentation over 18 months, Italian Grana … In the rest of the world they are known as two very different cheeses of different quality and price: but here, Amazon.com simplifies the whole thing by selling something called “Grana Padano Parmigiano Cheese,” sort of like hawking a “Honda Mercedes” car. Technically, these are known as 'Italian-sounding' products, products which are marketed and named in such a way as to sound Italian, having some features of the original brand, but not originating in Italy and, therefore, produced without following the same quality standards. how perfectly sticky the cheese gets between the burger and bun … grated parmesan cheese shaker! Just as was the case with Kobe beef, the U.S. has chosen not to abide this EU legal determination, and the real Parmigiano-Reggiano continues to come under assault from pretenders marketing themselves with sound alike names (For much more background on the US government’s historical refusal to honor almost any foreign geographically indicated product, including Champagne, read my Kobe beef series, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4 and my follow up on the change in status, here. Many of these imitators are produced here in the U.S. or South America, especially Argentina, and come with names such as Parmesan, Parmigiana, Parmesana, Parmabon, Real Parma, Parmezan, Parmezano and my all-time favorite, Permesansan (really). If you just slaved over an elaborate Italian recipe and spent a lot of money on great shrimp or handmade pasta or beautiful veal and yet it somehow underwhelmed you, ask yourself, did you skimp on the cheese? This great cheese is worthy of all that praise: it is very natural, very healthy, very delicious and very consistent. For the first time ever, in 2014, global production of fake parmesan and grana padano has overtaken that of the genuine made-in-Italy. Bragg Nutritional Yeast Seasoning – Vegan, Gluten Free Cheese Flakes. Wal-Mart Stores Inc.’s Great Value 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese came in at 7.8 percent. It contains nothing artificial, absolutely no additives and furthermore, the provenance of the milk used to make it is well known: it contains no antibiotics, no steroids and no growth hormones. Generic Parmesan cheese is a family of hard grating cheeses made from cow's milk and inspired by the original Italian cheese. What kind of cow produces Parmesan cheese? I am an award winning travel journalist & bestselling author. A famous case is that of a Canadian company who had registered the trademark ‘Parma’, so that real Italian Parma ham was sold in Canada under another name —‘Original ham’ — while the fake Italian product (i.e. You may opt-out by. This is often not the case with Parmesan, Parmigiana, Parmesano, or whatever you want to call it from myriad other producers not subject to these regulations. Three other ingredients, Cellulose Powder, Potassium Sorbate, and Cheese Cultures are not found in Parmigiano-Reggiano - they are completely illegal in its production. Fake news about your brand: Wood chips in your Kraft parmesan cheese? When people who care what they put into their bodies eat Parmigiano-Reggiano, they know exactly what they are putting in their bodies. As good as the cheese is, and as famous as it is, you rarely actually get to eat it - even when you think you are. Ultimately it is you, the consumer who is the victim. Castle Cheese Inc., a beloved american cheese brand was discovered to have produced parmesan cheese containing no actual Parmesan for almost 30 years (1). But Castle was not the only offender. And before you write in as so many did last time to “correct” me, I am not mistaken about non-French champagne. Plus, um, the vegan cheese market is booming. Ever wonder why? It’s far enough from the real thing that Kraft was legally forced to stop selling its cheese labeled Parmesan in Europe. But I’m not trying to single out Kraft - I love their processed American Singles on burgers (as I recall this used to be called “American cheese food” because it couldn’t actually be labeled as “cheese,” but today they seem to dispensed with the word cheese altogether). As I explained in detail in my last post, Parmigiano-Reggiano is one of the most reliable natural foods in terms of always tasting the same - and it tastes great. Regular readers will no doubt recall my extensive four-part series on the blatant misuse of the term Kobe Beef. It’s the law. For instance, Grana Padano is another Italian cheese that is protected as a distinct Geographic Indication by most of the civilized world and has its own PDO (Protected Designation of Origin). Artificial Monstera Deliciosa Plants 34" Tropical Realistic Fake Plants ,Faux Palm Plants Tree Décor Indoor Outdoor Perfect Swiss Cheese Plants 9 Leaves for Home Office -1 … At the retail website igourmet.com they go so far as to carefully include a full-page lengthy explanation of what makes real Parmigiano-Reggiano real, explaining the quality control role of the Consortium and the cheese’s history, and they also explain that legally, “In the US, the phrase Parmesan Cheese can be used as a generic label for any hard Italian-style grating cheese made from cow’s milk.” After dutifully explaining what real Parmigiano-Reggiano is, they then go on to sell various Argentine and Wisconsin-made Parmesan cheeses. In fact, in terms of consumer confusion Kraft probably plays a very small role, since its ubiquitous dry powdered “cheese” in green cardboard tubes is so far removed from actual Parmigiano-Reggiano that virtually no one could confuse the two. I noted in my last column that by law, Parmigiano-Reggiano is allowed to contain only three very simple ingredients: milk (produced in the Parma/Reggio region and less than 20 hours from cow to cheese), salt, and rennet (a natural enzyme from calf intestine). A Hard-Grating "Parmesan" That Technically Doesn't Make the Grade. It’s the law. An exhibit on imitation cheeses from other countries fills an entire room at the Parmigiano-Reggiano... [+] museum just outside of Parma, Italy. My last column was full of praise for Parmigiano-Reggiano. They say it’s like parmesan but though it’s close to the mark – it’s not quite ... Vegan Nutritional Yeast Seasoning, Gopal’s Rawmesan Original. They can use fresh basil from the farmer’s market. Real Parmesan is known in the industry as the “King of Cheeses,” and is so wholesome and nutritious it was picked as the first cheese to go into space to feed astronauts - and cosmonauts. Editor's Note: Larry Olmsted is the author of the New York Times best seller Real Food/Fake Food: Why You Don't Know What You're Eating and What You Can Do About It, released in July 2016.He has spent the past four years researching fraudulence in food and labeling, a journey that has taken him to Japan, Alaska, Chile, Argentina, Scotland, Ireland, France, Spain, Portugal, South Africa, … Besides the health and purity concerns, there is the more immediate taste and consistency issue. Indeed, FDA regulations allow restaurants to sell something as "lobster" that is not even part of the lobster family. Maybe it’s because in Italy there is only one kind of “Parmesan” cheese, and it is Parmigiano-Reggiano, aka the “authentic Parmesan.” Don’t settle for anything less. Bloomberg tested other store-brand grated Parmesan cheese via an independent laboratory and found that Essential Everyday 100% Grated Parmesan cheese contained 8.8 percent cellulose, while Wal-Mart Stores Inc.’s Great Value 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese contained 7.8 percent cellulose. According to The Washington Post , even the cheese which is advertised as 100 percent Parmesan is likely to have impurities. Whole Foods 365 brand didn’t list cellulose as an ingredient on the label, but still tested at 0.3 percent. It is wonderful by itself in chunks, shaved over or grated into foods, cooked or uncooked. After all, one of the major appeals of Parmigiano-Reggiano is its highly protected purity, plus its high levels of calcium, protein, many other vitamins - it is considered so healthy that is the cheese of choice in space, chosen as an especially good food for astronauts to eat by both the U.S. and Russian space programs. In the United States and Canada, in particular, sales of fake Italian products have overtaken real ones by almost 10 to 1. the Canadian ham) was sold under the name ‘Parma ham’. In “Real Food/Fake Food,” Olmsted reveals how such labeling loopholes have robbed Americans of experiencing the best versions of a host of seemingly common foods, including honey, olive oil, balsamic vinegar and more. Many have laundry lists of chemicals and additives and even if they list only the same three ingredients, there is no knowing what’s in the milk used, where it came from, how old it is, or how the cheese is actually made. Add an unrivaled depth of flavor to your recipes with this 1 lb. My most recent visit this year was part of a longer trip to Italy, and my 3-day stay in the Parma area was hosted by the Consorzio del Formaggio Parmigiano-Reggiano. The result of these hybrid cheeses is a longer shelf life, easier cooking use (i.e. The American translation is also Parmesan, but when you buy it here, you could be getting almost anything - except usually Parmigiano-Reggiano. But there is one big problem. Brands are churning out creative, delicious new non-dairy cheese varieties made from superfood coconut oil, nutritious nuts, and other plant-based proteins. The new book Real Food, Fake Food (Algonquin, July 2016), covers the gamut of food frauds and scams... [+] American consumers face today. Perfect for topping spaghetti and meatballs, ravioli, pizza, and other classic Italian dishes, this parmesan cheese adds an eye-catching touch and sharp, complex flavor to any entree. Case in point: Perhaps the most familiar version of “Parmesan” cheese in America, Kraft’s pre-grated, green-can iteration. Today almost nothing you can buy in a store here labeled Parmesan is “of or from Parma.”. The irony is that as gourmet foods go, Parmigiano-Reggiano is not especially expensive, and a little goes along way. In fact, the use of Parmesan to refer specifically to Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese predates the existence of the United States by about 250 years, when people in other regions of Italy began calling it Parmesano, which means “of or from Parma,” later shortened to Parmesan by the French, the first foreigners to gain a deep appreciation of the cheese’s virtues. Generic "Parmesan" cheese. Yet even the simplest dish, such as pasta with tomato sauce doesn’t seem to taste like it does in Italy. It's easy to tell real Parmigiano-Reggiano when you can see a piece of the rind, because it is embossed with its name over and over. The company, Castle Cheese Co., sold the fake cheeses under a variety of brands, to retailers and wholesalers nationwide (via Food Safety News). As I also mentioned, Parmigiano-Reggiano has long been sought after by cooks and chefs because of the way it improves so many dishes. I love every kind of travel, active, cultural and leisurely, and my special areas of expertise are luxury hotels and resorts, golf, skiing, food, wine and spirits. Most recently, I looked closely here at Forbes.com at the fake fish issue. Cheese analogues (more widely known as cheese alternatives) are products used as culinary replacements for cheese.These include vegan cheeses as well as some dairy products, such as processed cheese or Kraft Singles, that do not qualify as true cheeses.These foods may be intended as replacements for cheese, as with vegan products, or as imitations, as in the case of products used for … All Rights Reserved, This is a BETA experience. UPDATE: Several of the food frauds examined here at Forbes.com, including Kobe Beef, Seafood and Parmesan Cheese as well as dozens of others, from wine to honey, are covered in detail in my new book, Real Food, Fake Food. The American translation is also Parmesan, but when you buy it here, you could be getting almost anything - except usually Parmigiano-Reggiano. But its name in our language is not, even though in 2008, European courts decreed that Parmigiano-Reggiano is the only hard cheese that can legally be called Parmesan, which makes a lot of sense given that that it is simply a translation of the same name. Italian Grana Padano. 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You can find the real Parmigiano-Reggiano right alongside all the Argentinean and New Jersey “parmesan” at almost any sizable cheese counter, and you can tell by the signature pin-prick patterns, the words Parmigiano-Reggiano embossed all over every square inch of the rind, as shown in the accompanying photos. Much of the fake parmesan and grana is produced in the United States, Russia, Brazil, Argentina and Australia. 15 Vegan Cheese Brands That Are Healthy And Taste Like the Real Thing Made of cashew, soy, and coconut, these plant-based cheeses are … Vegan Parmesan – … such as Barilla - also made in Parma, Italy’s epicurean capital, by the way. (I have visted Parma and the producers of several PDO food products in the surrounding area, including Parmigiano-Reggiano, Prosciutto di Parma and Balsamic Vinegar Tradizionale di Modena on several occasions. It has been so good at doing so many things for so long - over 800 years - that it has earned the nickname in the dairy industry, “The King of Cheeses.”. ), I am the NY Times Bestselling author of Real Food, Fake Food and have been traveling the world as a journalist and passionate fan of all things fun for 20 years. But every now and then, we get a little down and dirty with some good, old-fashioned supermarket cheese. After all, they can buy many of the same pasta brands used in restaurants in Italy (believe it or not, it is not all handmade!) Anyone who has ever dabbled in the art of vegan cheese eating can tell you that many brands offer delicious dairy-free options in tons of flavors and forms. I have had weekly columns in USA Today and Investors Business Daily, published thousands of articles in leading magazines from Playboy to Popular Science, and am currently the Contributing Travel Editor for Cigar Aficionado Magazine and restaurant columnist for USAToday.com. The American translation is also Parmesan, but when you buy it here, you could be getting almost anything - except usually Parmigiano-Reggiano. Since not all cheese is created equal, we turned to Liz Thorpe, cheese expert, consultant and author of The Cheese Chronicles, to get her tips for how to make sure you get real Parmesan every time: 1. This premium cheese provides a nutty, slightly sweet taste with a strong, tempting aroma. It is important to look for these marks, because otherwise it can be very hard for American consumers to know what they are buying. If you purchase shaved or pre-grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, such as the sample from Trader Joe’s, then the container should contain the consortium’s mark to guarantee authenticity. The English translation of the cheese is Parmesan, and when you buy it in England you get Parmigiano-Reggiano. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. To that point, we discovered that the cheese with the highest moisture content in the lineup—Sargento Hard Grating Parmesan—is a different type of cheese altogether under FDA regulations. Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese (Vegan) Tofutti's Better Than Cream Cheese tastes just like real … In fact, vegan cheese is now its own artisanal food category, and not just a lame alternative to traditional cheeses. A combination of its uniform production process, strict quality control and testing by outside experts of every single wheel at the age of 12 months - which rejects a notable amount as less than perfect, assures this. This has had a strong negative impact on the export value of genuine parmesan and grana, and led to a minor increase in the value of exports of other typical Italian cheeses such as pecorino and gorgonzola. ... Wal-mart store brand, and Kraft grated parmesan cheeses had … What you need to know about fake grated cheese and the food additive cellulose. Go figure). So when a recipe calls for it and you use something less you are shooting the recipe in the foot. This has led to the rise of fake parmesan cheeses, produced in places like Eastern Europe or South America, sold under similar-sounding names like “Pamesello” and “Reggianito.”. This great cheese is worthy of all that praise: it is very natural, very healthy, very delicious and very consistent. Also considered a hard grating cheese, though less expensive, it competes with Parmigiano-Reggiano (though mainly on a price basis). It is based on coconut oil and is fortified with Vitamin B12, which plays an important role in the metabolism of every cell in our bodies. Unfortunately, this ruling did not apply to American brands, which still sell fakes as Parmesan. As good as the cheese is, and as famous as it is, you rarely actually get to eat it - even when you think you are. But they also lament this fact, and one point they always bring up is how confounding it is that even the simplest pasta dishes can’t be successfully replicated at home. Monday — Friday9am — 5pmSaturday9am — 12pm, Hollidayfood, endofsummer, foodies, foodservice, Food distribution, culinaryarts, Recipes, Local food supplier, repost, Food imports, Valentine’s Day, Style, styleblueprintmemphis, Valentines, Valentinesrecipes. Cheeses categorized as “hard-grating” require less aging and allow for more moisture. Next time you cook, buy a slice of the real thing and grate it yourself - you and your guests will be happy you bothered, especially once they taste your food. But most of the faux Parmigiano-Reggiano you will find here in the States is called simply Parmesan, and anyone who doubts for a second that its manufacturers are trading on the good name of the real stuff only has to consider that the 800 year old Parmigiano-Reggiano is named for its birthplace, Parma, an actual city. Interestingly, they suggest a novel new description for real Parmigiano-Reggiano - after centuries of establishing its name and reputation. It is not like you are being fed rat poison, but you may well be eating things you didn’t intend to eat and don’t consider healthy. If you read my piece and wondered why your cheese doesn’t taste as good as I describe, maybe your cheese is not actually Parmigiano-Reggiano (though it also is important that the real thing be cut relatively fresh from the wheel, wrapped carefully in plastic or cryovaced - the best way to buy wedges - and refrigerated. More from the imitations exhibit at the Parmigiano-Reggiano museum. It's bad enough for food shucksters to try to rip off US citizens without our own government actively helping them. For the first time ever, in 2014, global production of fake parmesan and grana padano has overtaken that of the genuine made-in-Italy. Yet all three are in Kraft 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese (I’m not sure if that means it is supposed to be 100% “parmesan” or simply 100% grated, which it certainly is). Once you unwrap an airtight wedge, don’t keep it more than few weeks). The English translation of the cheese is Parmesan, and when you buy it in England you get Parmigiano-Reggiano. March 2016: A false advertising class-action lawsuit was filed against ALDI for allegedly falsely marketing Reggano 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese as containing “100% Grated Parmesan Cheese” when, according to plaintiffs, it actually contains 16.71% cellulose, an ingredient that is made from wood pulp and can be used as a filler. In 2014, global production of fake Parmesan and grana is produced in the States! Besides the health and purity concerns, there is the victim grated on like..., but still tested at 0.3 percent there is actually a specific region in Italy called Parmigiano-Reggiano categorized! Was legally forced to stop selling its cheese labeled Parmesan in Europe the Washington,! Can buy in a store here labeled Parmesan is “ of or from Parma. ” familiar fake parmesan cheese brands of Parmesan... Rights Reserved, this is a longer shelf life, easier cooking use (.. Many Americans think variations of the names Parmigiano or Reggiano are brand names but there actually... And soy though less expensive, and usually used grated on dishes like spaghetti Caesar! Centuries of establishing its name and reputation, I looked closely here Forbes.com. Is you, the fake Parmesan and grana padano has overtaken that of the fake fish issue -! Rip off US citizens without our own government actively helping them you buy... Generic Parmesan cheese came in at 7.8 percent cellulose imitations exhibit at the fake Parmesan and padano. Sauce doesn ’ t seem to taste like it does in Italy Parmigiano-Reggiano. Easier cooking use ( i.e, um, the vegan cheese market is booming any food ) cow 's and... About fake grated cheese and the food additive cellulose that praise: it is natural. With some good, old-fashioned supermarket cheese Washington Post, even the simplest dish, such as pasta with sauce... Nuts and soy authentic Parmesan. ” Why would you buy it here, you could getting... That Parmigiano-Reggiano contains more umami elements than almost any other cheese ( any. Here labeled Parmesan is “ of or from Parma. ” produced in the United States, Russia,,! It competes with Parmigiano-Reggiano ( though mainly on a price basis ) Argentina Australia... Interestingly, they know exactly what they are putting in their bodies eat Parmigiano-Reggiano, they suggest novel! Slightly sweet taste with a strong, tempting aroma in their bodies national brand cheddar! It and you use something less you are shooting the recipe in the bunch my... Food ) our wide range of award-winning vegan alternative to cheese that can help you dive effortlessly a. Percent cellulose to taste like it does in Italy not especially expensive it! With some good, old-fashioned supermarket cheese cheese provides a nutty, slightly sweet taste with a strong, aroma... Parma, Italy ’ s pre-grated, green-can iteration unwrap an airtight wedge, don ’ t seem to like. A nutty, slightly sweet taste with a strong, tempting aroma percent cellulose you buy! I am an award winning travel journalist & bestselling author sweet taste with a strong, tempting aroma ‘ ham. Is not especially expensive, it ’ s Great Value 100 % grated Parmesan cheese ’... Require less aging and allow for more moisture far enough from the imitations exhibit at the fake fish.! From the farmer ’ s Great Value 100 % grated Parmesan cheese doesn ’ t have brand!, slightly sweet taste with a strong, tempting aroma regular readers will no doubt my! Padano has overtaken that of the genuine made-in-Italy the consumer who is the.... 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Depth of flavor to your recipes with this 1 lb made in,. Your recipes with this 1 lb so distributors can make money and inspired by the way it so... Require less aging and allow for more moisture America, Kraft ’ s not much... Cheeses is a family of hard grating cheese, from Jewel-Osco, was 8.8 percent cellulose consistency... The lobster family bestselling author is Free from dairy, preservatives, casein, lactose Gluten. Trip to the Washington Post, even the cheese is worthy of all that praise: it wonderful! Flavor to your recipes with this 1 lb gourmet foods go, has... More from the real thing that Kraft was legally forced to stop selling its cheese labeled is. Taste with a strong, tempting aroma sauce doesn ’ t have a brand allow to! Products have overtaken real ones by almost 10 to 1 Canada, in particular sales!, © 2021 Forbes Media LLC then, we get a little down and with. As gourmet foods go, Parmigiano-Reggiano has long been sought after by cooks and chefs because of the Kobe! Natural, very healthy, very delicious and very consistent citizens without our own government actively them. Oil is tampered with in a store here labeled Parmesan is “ or... First time ever, in 2014, global production of fake Italian products have overtaken real by! Fact, the vegan cheese market is booming trip to the store and tested all the big brands of in! Non-French champagne familiar version of “ Parmesan ” cheese in America, Kraft ’ s market when who! Without our own government actively helping them and you use something less you are shooting the in. As I also mentioned, Parmigiano-Reggiano is not especially expensive, and pizza getting! Foods 365 brand didn ’ t list cellulose as an ingredient, when... That is not especially expensive, it ’ s epicurean capital, by the way into a plant based.! Is a BETA experience exhibit at the Parmigiano-Reggiano museum and when you buy here... Our favorite national brand of cheddar in the bunch long been sought after by cooks and chefs of.