A recent series of viral videos on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok are advising people to avoid eating packaged pre-shredded cheeses, claiming that the powdery substance they’re coated in to prevent clumping is actually “wood chips,” “bark,” or “sawdust.”
In the comments of these videos, many Internet users expressed their concern about these allegations, even saying that they would no longer buy grated cheese. But what do dietitians think?
“These types of videos create fear in viewers who are already skeptical of our food system and don’t know who to trust,” registered dietitian Kristina Cooke told TODAY.com. “When the information isn’t coming from a scientifically sound and credible source, it’s almost like playing a game of telephone that gets out of hand.”
The most important thing to know about these claims is that pre-shredded and block cheeses are healthy and safe to eat, experts say. Read on to learn more about the substance in shredded cheese, known as powdered cellulose, and its uses.
What is the powdery substance on grated cheese?
The powdery or fine substance that coats the pieces of packaged grated cheese is a structural organic compound called cellulose (sometimes called cellulose gum, carboxymethylcellulose, or microcrystalline cellulose). As a food additive, it prevents the cheese from clumping together in the package.
“It’s also used in some products as a calorie reducer, anti-caking agent, thickener and to add texture,” Caroline Susie, a registered dietitian and national spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, tells TODAY.com. And because the compound absorbs excess moisture, it also helps prevent mold growth, extending the shelf life of some products.
Cellulose used as a food additive is typically made from wood pulp or cotton fibers, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, an independent food and health watchdog group.
“The edible cellulose…used in food is extracted and removed from the inedible part,” Cooke explains. “(It) is molecularly the same cellulose that is present in virtually all plant matter.”
In fact, cellulose has the important function of giving plant cells the rigidity they need to maintain their shape, which is why it is found naturally in varying amounts in all plants. plants and plant-based foods.
The CSPI considers cellulose safe to consume.
What foods contain cellulose?
In addition to grated cheese, cellulose is sometimes added to:
- Bread
- Ice creams and other frozen desserts
- Syrups, condiments and sauces for pancakes
- Granola bars
- Yogurt
- Dried spices
- Processed meat
- Meal Replacement Shakes
- Fiber supplements
Cellulose occurs naturally in fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, lentils, nuts and seeds.
“Celery is particularly high in cellulose,” Amy Goodson, a registered dietitian and nutritionist at The Sports Nutrition Playbook, tells TODAY.com. “If you’ve ever had stringy pieces of celery stuck between your teeth, you’ve experienced cellulose.”
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Is cellulose dangerous to consume?
Whether natural or added, cellulose is “generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the Food and Drug Administration,” says Jen Messer, a registered dietitian and president of the New Hampshire Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. If it weren’t, it wouldn’t be approved by the agency and wouldn’t be allowed in thousands of products sold in grocery stores across the country.
Humans don’t have the enzymes to break down cellulose, she says, so it passes through the digestive system unabsorbed. Cellulose is also considered a dietary fiber, although Messer says the amount added to grated cheese “is so negligible that it doesn’t contribute significantly to your daily fiber intake.”
In large amounts, natural cellulose plays a vital role in digestive health and promotes regular bowel movements. It can also help improve cholesterol and blood sugar levels and promote feelings of fullness, which is why it is often added to meal replacements.
So, is it better to buy cheese in a block or grated?
According to experts, there is no difference in the health benefits of either type of cheese.
“Both options contain the same nutrients as cheese, including calcium, protein, vitamin B12, selenium, niacin, riboflavin and iodine,” Goodson says.
Other experts agree, telling TODAY.com that the only differences to consider between block cheese and shredded cheese are cost, convenience and taste.
For example, the additives and preservatives used in shredded cheese “can slightly affect the flavor, making it less fresh than freshly grated cheese for some people,” Goodson says.
It’s also typically more expensive per ounce than block cheese, and Messer notes that freshly grated cheese “can melt more easily” than pre-shredded cheese.
On the other hand, bagged shredded cheese has the advantage of containing less moisture, making it less likely to mold, and generally lasting longer in the refrigerator than block cheese. It also generally takes up less space and does not require bulky kitchen tools, such as a cheese grater.
“Buying pre-shredded cheese is also convenient because it saves time and effort in food preparation and cleanup,” Messer says.
Cooke agrees: “If time, capacity, effort, and extra dishes prevent you from eating a food that could benefit you, make it easier on yourself and buy grated cheese. But if you enjoy the satisfaction of preparing a larger portion of your meal, opt for block cheese instead.”
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