Cheese Slices


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Brands Tested

Unit Price (per 100 gm)

The unit price gives a fair idea about the cheapest and costliest brands.

  • As per the unit price, Amul is the cheapest brand and Britannia is the costliest.

    • Parameters Tested

    Moisture Content

    As per FSS Regulations, moisture content shall not be more than 60 per cent for processed cheese spread. So, lower is better for consumers.

  • Since Britannia Slimz is proprietary food, the 60 percent standard does not apply to it. In all other brands, moisture was found within the prescribed limit.

    • Milk Fat on Dry Basis

    Fat is an essential part of any balanced diet, providing fatty acids, fat-soluble vitamins and a concentrated source of energy. As per Dietary Guidelines for Indians by National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, 2011, diets of young children and adolescents should contain about 30 grams to 50 grams fat per day.

    As per FSS Regulations, milk fat on dry basis shall not be less than 40 per cent for processed cheese spread. So, higher is better for consumers.

  • The 40 percent standard does not apply to proprietary food Britannia Slimz. In all other brands, milk fat on dry basis was found above the prescribed limit.

    • Bacterial Contamination

    Bacterial Contamination is a serious issue for all food products. We conducted tests for total plate count, coliform, E. coli and Salmonella.

    Total Plate Count (TPC)

    Total plate count is the amount of viable bacteria in a food product and serves as a key indicator of the product’s overall quality and safety. As per Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, total plate count in processed cheese/cheese spread should not be more than 75,000 per gram.

  • Except in Dairy Craft (65,000 cfu per gram), total plate count in all other brands was found to be below 10 cfu per gram. All the brands are safe for human consumption.

    • Coliform Bacteria Count

    Presence of coliform bacteria is suggestive of unsanitary conditions or practices during production, processing, or storage. As per Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, coliform bacteria count in processed cheese/cheese spread should be less than 10 per gram.

  • Coliform bacteria count was found to be less than 10 cfu per gram in all brands, making them safe for human consumption.

    • E. Coli

    Unlike many other disease-causing bacteria, E. coli can lead to an infestation even if ingested in a small amount. As per Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, E. coli bacteria count in processed cheese/cheese spread should be absent per gram.

  • E. coli was found to be less than 10 per gram in all the brands, making them safe for human consumption.

    • Salmonella

    Salmonella, the name of a group of bacteria, is one of the most common causes of food poisoning. As per Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, Salmonella in processed cheese/cheese spread should be absent per 25 grams.

  • In all of the brands, Salmonella was found absent per 25 grams, making them safe for human consumption.

    • For General Qualities

    Marking

    The following information shall be clearly and indelibly marked on the label of each container/ packet as per Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations and Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules:

  • Name of the product
  • Trade name, if any
  • Name and address of manufacturer
  • Batch or code number
  • Ingredients in descending order
  • Net quantity in grams
  • Date, month and year of manufacture
  • The words ‘Best before’ (months to be indicated)
  • Nutritional information
  • FSSAI license number
  • Storage information
  • Maximum Retail Price (MRP)
  • Customer-care details.

    • All the tested brands were packed in plastic film.

    All brands had labelling as required by the rules and regulations.

    Customer-Care Details

    As per Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011, every package shall bear the name, address, telephone number, and email address, if available, of the person who can be – or the office that can be – contacted in case of consumer complaints.