Is processed cheese OK?

[sandrac02]

Hi

Is it OK to eat processed chesse. The type McDonalds put on their 1/4 pounder with cheese ?

Thanks

San x

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Is processed cheese OK?

I wouldn't eat it every day.

It's not ideal ... but I can't say that I've not had it!

[not2late]

Re: Is processed cheese OK?

Generally speaking, processed cheese isn't okay. For example Velveeta or Cheese Whiz contain carbs that aren't Atkins friendly.

For McDonalds...look at the ingredient list on their website and look up what's in their cheese. IF it looks like Velveeta/cheese whiz, then avoid it, imo.

[cleochatra]

Re: Is processed cheese OK?

McDonalds uses American cheese, so I would say it's going to be fine if you count the slice as an ounce and don't go over the 4 ounce limit per day. You also want to watch the pickles and the rehydrated onions McD's uses and skip the ketchup.

[liv]

Re: Is processed cheese OK?

I thought American cheese was a no no because it was not aged like normal cheese and therefore unprocessed milk sugars. Did I get this wrong?

[sandrac02]

Re: Is processed cheese OK?

Ive just checked and its Emmental. Is this OK? Im assuming this is classed as Swiss cheese.

Thanks
San x

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Is processed cheese OK?

Huh?

In the US?

Can you show a link to that?

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Is processed cheese OK?

>>thought American cheese was a no no because it was not aged like normal cheese and therefore unprocessed milk sugars. Did I get this wrong?>>

American cheese is processed ... however, if it's quality (not cheese food or wrapped in it's own sheet of plastic), it can be "ok".

It's processed from aged cheeses such as colby and cheddar.

American cheese - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

On a list of acceptable cheese, I would be it at the bottom, but I wouldn't run screaming from it.

[Georgiana]

Re: Is processed cheese OK?

I thought American cheese was a no no because it was not aged like normal cheese and therefore unprocessed milk sugars.

As long as it doesn't have dry milk or whey/whey solids (due to lactose content) and anhydrous milkfat (trans fat), it's fine.

The ingredients in the Pasteurized Process American Cheese at McDonald's are:

Milk, water, milkfat, cheese culture, sodium citrate, salt, citric acid, sorbic acid (preservative), sodium phosphate, artificial color, lactic acid, acetic acid, enzymes, soy lecithin (added for slice separation).

The ingredients are acceptable for Induction.

[Georgiana]

Re: Is processed cheese OK?

Ive just checked and its Emmental. Is this OK? Im assuming this is classed as Swiss cheese.

Some sandwiches use Swiss cheese, but the Quarter Pounder is not one of them.

Their Swiss cheese has:

Swiss cheese (pasteurized milk, cheese culture, salt, enzymes), powdered cellulose and potato starch (prevent caking), natamycin (natural mold inhibitor).

Potato starch is not an Induction food.

[2big4mysize]

Re: Is processed cheese OK?

pasturized processed american cheese is actually the legal name for a mix of cheddard and colby and has strict rules governeing what it can have in it.

some manufacturers try to get around the rules by calling their cheese processed cheese hoping folk will think it is the real American cheese.

MCDonalds upgraded their cheeses a few yrs ago as back in 2003 they had just processed cheese and it wasn't the good stuff. At our local McDonalds you can ask for any cheese they have on any sandwich.