The Parmesan cheese you're eating might actually be wood pulp

Don't be alarmed, but your Parmesan cheese might actually be wood pulp. The Food and Drug Administration has investigated Castle Cheese Inc.'s use of cellulose, an anti-clumping agent made from wood pulp, and cut-rate substitute cheeses in what the company marketed as 100 percent Parmesan cheese, Bloomberg Business reports.

Though Castle was apparently not an authorized Target vendor, the FDA reported that "no Parmesan cheese was used to manufacture" Target's Market Pantry brand of 100 percent Parmesan cheese. The cheese was instead made up of Swiss, mozzarella, white cheddar, and cellulose.

Another cheesemaker estimated that about 20 percent of U.S. production of Italian hard cheeses is mislabeled.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Sign up