Cheddar (USDA Reference)

Cheddar (USDA Reference): Nutritional Data

This entry represents the nutritional reference data for cheddar cheese as classified for the United States Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service food distribution programmes — including the National School Lunch Program, Emergency Food Assistance Program, and Commodity Supplemental Food Program. These programmes distribute standardised food products to schools, food banks, and supplemental nutrition assistance recipients, with specific product specifications for commodity cheddar cheese. The nutritional values recorded here — 403 kcal and 22.9 g protein per 100 g, with 33.3 g fat — are broadly consistent with standard cheddar cheese composition and reflect the typical nutritional profile of pasteurised process cheddar or natural cheddar blocks distributed through these programmes. The USDA specifies minimum compositional standards for commodity cheddar including moisture content, fat in dry matter, age, and processing parameters to ensure consistent nutritional delivery across the distribution chain.

Nutritional Profile

USDA commodity cheddar provides 403 kcal and 22.9 g of protein per 100 g, with 33.3 g of fat — essentially identical to standard cheddar in its major nutritional parameters. Calcium at approximately 700 mg per 100 g is outstanding and is the primary nutritional rationale for including cheddar in food assistance programmes, alongside the high-quality complete protein. B12, phosphorus, zinc, and vitamin A are all present at levels consistent with mature cheddar cheese. The nutritional values in this entry are used as reference data in food labelling, menu planning, and nutritional analysis for institutional catering and food assistance administration.