What exactly is cheez? - goodnews - Brief Article

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has proposed stricter labeling laws that would expose the real ingredients--or lack of real ingredients--in grocery products.

That could be a big help to consumers who think the main ingredient in Cheez Whiz is actually cheddar cheese.

In fact, Cheez Whiz contains no cheddar at all and is chiefly MPC, or milk protein concentrate. But there are many misleading labels out there.

The report, rifled Clarifying the Labelling Rules for Highlighted Ingredients, Flavours and Sensory Characteristic Descriptions, was released in March 2003.

It takes aim at a host of products such as "cherry cake" mixes that contain no actual cherries; "strawberry wafers" with no strawberries; "buttery crackers" with no butter; and "creamy" soft-centered candies with no cream.

The Washington-based consumer watchdog group, The Center for Science in the Public Interest, has been fighting for these kinds of food label changes in the United States for more than five years.

COPYRIGHT 2003 PRIMEDIA Intertec, a PRIMEDIA Company. All Rights Reserved.
COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group