What's the Cleanest Cheese Brand?

The Short Answer

The cleanest cheeses are 100% grass-fed block cheeses with exactly four ingredients: milk, cultures, enzymes, and salt.

If you're buying pre-shredded or grated cheese, you are likely paying for wood pulp and chemical mold inhibitors. Skip the convenience bags and shred your own block cheese from brands like Organic Valley, Raw Farm, or Kerrygold to get the Healthiest Cheese Types.

Why This Matters

The FDA allows food manufacturers to add cellulose—a plant fiber usually derived from wood pulp—to shredded cheese. The legal limit is 2% to 4%, but independent lab tests found up to 8.8% cellulose in generic brand parmesan.

Cheese companies use cellulose because it's cheap and it stops shredded cheese from clumping. It also acts as a filler, which means you are paying cheese prices for literal sawdust. Cellulose In Shredded Cheese

Add in the antifungal sprays and artificial dyes used in conventional cheese, and your healthy fat source quickly becomes a heavily processed food. Buying clean cheese ensures you get the actual nutritional benefits without the industrial fillers. Is Cheese Bad For You

What's Actually In Cheese

Real cheese requires just four ingredients. Here's what you'll find in the processed versions instead:

• Cellulose — A plant fiber derived from wood pulp or cotton used to prevent clumping and add bulk. Cellulose In Shredded Cheese
• Natamycin — An antifungal prescription drug sprayed onto shredded cheese to prevent mold growth.
• Annatto — A natural plant extract used to dye cheddar cheese orange. While generally safe, some people have sensitivities to it.
• Artificial Colors (Yellow 5 & 6) — Petroleum-derived dyes found in cheap American and processed cheeses. They are linked to hyperactivity in children. Is Processed Cheese Bad
• rBGH / rBST — Synthetic growth hormones given to conventional cows to increase milk production.

What to Look For

Green Flags:

• Block Cheese — Buying it in block form guarantees you avoid cellulose and anti-caking agents. Block Vs Shredded Cheese
• 100% Grass-Fed Milk — Higher in omega-3s and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) than conventional dairy. Is Grass Fed Cheese Better
• Raw Milk — Contains natural enzymes and beneficial bacteria that are destroyed during pasteurization.

Red Flags:

• Pre-Shredded or Grated — Almost always contains wood pulp or potato starch to prevent clumping.
• "Cheese Product" — Legally cannot be called cheese because it doesn't contain enough actual milk.
• Neon Orange Color — Unless dyed with natural annatto, extreme orange means artificial food coloring.

The Best Options

If you want the cleanest cheese, buy it by the block and grate it yourself.

The Bottom Line

1. Buy block cheese. You'll instantly eliminate cellulose, starches, and anti-fungal sprays.

2. Choose grass-fed or organic. This ensures the cows weren't pumped full of synthetic growth hormones or fed pesticide-laden grains.

3. Check the ingredient list. It should only say milk, cheese cultures, salt, and enzymes.

FAQ

Why is there wood pulp in my cheese?

Manufacturers use cellulose—derived from wood pulp or cotton—as an anti-caking agent to stop shredded cheese from clumping together. It also acts as a cheap filler to increase the product's weight. Cellulose In Shredded Cheese

Is Tillamook cheese clean?

Tillamook's block cheeses are acceptable because they use clean, basic ingredients without fillers. However, they source milk from conventional dairy farms rather than 100% grass-fed pastures. Is Tillamook Cheese Clean

Is grass-fed cheese really better?

Yes. Grass-fed dairy contains significantly higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) compared to cheese from grain-fed cows. Is Grass Fed Cheese Better

---

References (7)

1. 1. cbsnews.com
2. 2. prettyorganicgirl.com
3. 3. thecounter.org
4. 4. grasslandbeef.com
5. 5. rawfarmusa.com
6. 6. thetakeout.com
7. 7. nih.gov