Cheez Whiz

Cheez Whiz
A cheesesteak sandwich with Cheez Whiz at Pat's King of Steaks in South Philadelphia
Country of origin United States
Source of milk Cow
Pasteurized Yes
Texture Thick sauce
Fat content 189
Protein content 0

Cheez Whiz is a processed cheese sauce or spread sold by Kraft Foods. It was developed by a team led by food scientist Edwin Traisman (1915–2007). While many sources give its national debut as 1953,[1] it was advertised by Kraft and retailers in several states in late 1952.[2]

Orange in color, it usually comes in a glass jar and is used as a topping for cheesesteaks, corn chips, hot dogs and other foods. It is marketed in Canada, Mexico, the Philippines, the United States and Venezuela.

Cheez Whiz is one of a number of "processed cheese foods", a category including some types of individually wrapped cheese slices. These products contain regular cheese that has been reprocessed along with additional ingredients such as emulsifiers and stabilizing agents, such as xanthan gum or carrageenan, and derive their tanginess and flavor from additional ingredients such as citric acid and flavoring compounds. Annatto is used for coloring.

Ingredients

As of 2016, Kraft describes Cheez Whiz as a "cheese dip" with the word "cheese" spelled correctly. The ingredients list contains "cheese culture" but does not, according to Kraft, actually contain any "cheese":[3]

Ingredients: Whey, Milk, Canola Oil, Maltodextrin, Milk Protein Concentrate, Sodium Phosphate, Contains Less Than 2% Of Modified Food Starch, Salt, Lactic Acid, Whey Protein Concentrate, Mustard Flour, Worcestershire Sauce (Vinegar, Molasses, Corn Syrup, Water, Salt, Caramel Color, Garlic Powder, Sugar, Spices (Contains Celery), Tamarind, Natural Flavor), Sodium Alginate, Sorbic Acid As A Preservative, Color Added, Cheese Culture, Enzymes, Natural Flavor[3]

Sizes

In some markets, the product has been sold in a narrow jar that tapered narrower towards the base, and sold as a spread. When Cheez Whiz is advertised as a dip or a sauce, the jars are larger and more of a squat cylindrical shape.

Varieties

Varieties include:

  • Cheez Whiz
  • Cheez Whiz Light
  • Cheez Whiz Tex Mex
  • Salsa Con Queso
  • Cheez Whiz Italia
  • Cheez Whiz Bacon
  • Cheez Whiz Pimiento

Cheez Whiz can also be found in "Handi Snacks" products such as Ritz Cheez Whiz 'n' Crackers in Canada.

Cheez Whiz was reformulated in the early 21st Century. The new formula is used for Cheez Whiz Light (15.5 oz) as well as the Original Big Cheese (15 oz). The products' jars were also widened to allow dipping.

Formula change

One change to the formula was the removal and reduction of real cheese. This change was not immediately made public to the consumer.[4]

In film

Cheez Whiz was mentioned by actor Layne Britton in The Blues Brothers film starring Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi, though the product actually shown was a can of Nabisco Snack Mate.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Hevesi, Dennis (9 June 2007). The New York Times, Edwin Traisman, 91, Dies; Helped Create Iconic Foods". Accessed 10 November 2008.
  2. ↑ "Right out of the Kraft kitchen" [5-column trade ad], Lubbock (TX) Morning Avalanche, 7 November 1952, and "Now grand cheese dishes fast" [Kraft 3-column ad], Syracuse (NY) Herald-Journal, 25 November 1952.
  3. 1 2 Kraft Foods website, Kraft Cheez Whiz Original Cheese Dip 8 Oz. Jar
  4. ↑ Moss, Michael (2013). Salt Sugar Fat. Random House. pp. 161–162. ISBN 978-0812982190
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