Is there really wood pulp and sawdust in your Parmesan cheese?

A handful of cheese companies have found themselves the subject of some pretty salacious headlines like "The Parmesan Cheese You Sprinkle on Your Penne Could Be Wood" and the "FDA Finds Wood Pulp in Major Parmesan Cheese Brands."

As a food scientist, this type of flashy news always catches my eye. I’ve seen so many exaggerations, misunderstandings, and deceptive tactics that I always feel inclined to investigate.

And I found it hard to believe that chunks of wood were being tossed into cheese all willy nilly. There’s too many laws and regulations for that to fly.

So, let's get to it... is there wood pulp in my cheese?

The short answer is — no. This is one of those exaggerations.

But, there is a reason for the lawsuits. The fight is over a food-safe additive called cellulose, which is in all plants.

Twitter: @abbey_thiel

[MichysBraids]

I'm still a little confused. Can you explain, Natural cellulose found in apples, etc.., verses processed cellulose made with bleach and other additives?

[strangetimes]

I'm here because I used "100% Parmesan Cheese" that has a picture of the cheese wheel slices. I was out of the real cheese that I had grated myself, so I had this as back-up. It says "grated" underneath on it's own. I added it to a meal, and it ruined it. It tasted like powder, didn't taste good. I read the ingredients and saw the Cellulose as an additive. Its totally at odds with the claim being made on the front

[Voudoo]

Very interesting!
(until you mention the FDA, which I don't trust anymore)

[benignorivera]

Why not take Grated Swiss cheese and combine them both.😊

[wordscapes]

That powdered, shredded, or grated Parmesan is not Parmesan. It might as well be sawdust. Sawdust tastes better.

[ADrunkBassist]

Everything you say sounds like a question?

[HerMajesty]

I just looked at my big bottle of parmesan and it has cellulose powder. Sawdust.

[fiethsing]

Good, now we can all stop buying processed garbage.

[victoriazhu]

i should go outside and eat some grass off my lawn

[garyjackson]

Now I know the real reason poop sometimes floats .😊

[NeverLoseHope]

Now I too can tell everyone what the Cellulose really is! Plant Fiber and not to worry about eating it.

[badandyg]

The way Abby talks as if every sentence is a question.

[QueensMom]

They're telling us it's 100% grated and 100% shredded 🤦🏽‍♀️😂

[bobstevemd]

what's happening to the cheese at 1:05 lol

[jasper]

Finally someone knows what is she talking. Thanks a lot for this video.

[sarahlewis]

I literally just found wood in my shredded cheese

[billbryan]

Great and thorough presentation, Abbey!

[wing]

So does it mean that wood pulp and saw dust are not used to produce cellulose? Or that it is used but its ok to eat it?

[lisathiel]

Great subject and very good presentation.

[menooNFT]

as a swiss and italian. Seeing theese cheeses hurts me