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Original poster

Cheese is now a junk food.

58 replies

NOELallie · 03/01/2007 10:57

I read a tiny piece in the Independent yesterday - not much info but basically the food advisory council has decided that cheese is less healthy than ...well...just about anything incl crisps. Not sure quite what the truth is but does anyone else have any more info.

But if this is an accurate story "Cheese as junk food" ....does anyone else think this is too stupid for words?

OP posts:
meathmom1234 · 03/01/2007 11:09

I guess they're talking about processed cheese, which has a high salt content, and additives. What about organic cheddar cheese - okay, I know it has a very high fat content, but surely it has a high calcium content which is beneficial to children.

twelveweekstomaternityleave · 03/01/2007 11:13

Blx. I can understand Cheesestrings and similar being junk food, but cheese, butter and all the supposedly "bad" dairy stuff is all good for you in the right amounts.

How annoying and misleading that they would carry a story like that.

ClosetSlob · 03/01/2007 11:14

I read/heard/saw somewhere the other day about them banning adverts for cheese? or did I imagine that?

moljam · 03/01/2007 11:16

oh my god,im a cheese junkie!i thought it was quite healthy so had an excuse to eat to much of it.

ClosetSlob · 03/01/2007 11:16

I love cheese.. yummy!

madmarchhare · 03/01/2007 11:17

It does have quite high levels of saturated fat.

ScummyMummy · 03/01/2007 11:19

They do mean all cheese, ridiculously. It's the new traffic light system thingy. They measure it on 100g portions and since cheese is 1/3rd fat it loses on that measure. As a cheese afficienado on the Today programme said yesterday, not many people eat 100g in one sitting (though i think I did yesterday while watching This Life +10) and it has lots of lovely and essential calcium.

Mercy · 03/01/2007 11:25

Haven't seen the article, but according to an info. pack I got from the BHF most cheese should be avoided or only eaten in limited amounts due to its high saturated fat content. Half-fat cheddar is acceptable apparently.

Some cheese has a fairly high salt content too.

I love cheese

twelveweekstomaternityleave · 03/01/2007 11:26

Plus saturated fat in the form of say, transfat is soooo much worse than the type of saturated fat in cheese. AND I have also read (though someone may have other info) that the type of saturated fat found within red meat flesh is worse than dairy fats. So this traffic light system is stupid.

It's just as misleading as when we were told in the eighties that "low fat, high carb" was "good for you".

Everything in moderation. Nobody would be fat if they knew moderation and ate a balanced diet containing all the essential nutrients they needed. The traffic light system will not teach people how to do that.

madmarchhare · 03/01/2007 11:27

low fat stuff has hydrogenated fat in though

twelveweekstomaternityleave · 03/01/2007 11:36

Next they'll be telling us that milk is unhealthy.

Frankly, my granny (82) is one of the healthiest people I know. She has walked a lot her whole life, eaten butter (never ever processed margarine) and bakes with butter too. She eats a moderate amount of bread each day, often her own brown soda bread. She eats a full meal at midday and a light snack in the evening. She eats lots of eggs, happens not to like cheese, but has lots of other dairy. Eats red meat 3 or 4 times a week. Always has fish at least once a week. Occasionally fries things in a little oil and treats herself to a Cadbury's flake a couple of times a week. None of this is becuase she's ever thought about her weight or even considered what might be "good" or "bad". It's because she grew up in the country, on a farm and that's what they did.

I try to bear that in mind when I'm thinking about "food issues" instead of listening the sh'te various government bodies come out with about what's good for you and what not. Natural un-processed food is what is healthy.

We were told eggs were "bad" not so long ago and to eat no more than a couple a week. Now there's research that says that the cholesterol in eggs is "good cholesterol" etc, etc. I think we just have lessons to learn from the diets of our healthy older family members.

Judy1234 · 03/01/2007 11:42

We are the only adult animal on earth that drinks milk. I think the Chinese think we smell becaus of the milk products we drink. I suspect it probably is better for us not to have dairy products but given that if we didn't we'd just have junk food, not beans etc I'm sure we're better off with milk.

Judy1234 · 03/01/2007 11:44

..oh and people going on to me about approving of wearing fur, the damage done by the world keeping cattle for milk and meat is massively massively more damaging. We need a vegan on here to put the case. (Sitting supping my hot chocolate...)

zippitippitoes · 03/01/2007 11:45

top post for new year amusement xenia

dairy products very good for girls re osreoporosis in later life

nearlythree · 03/01/2007 11:45

It's not just cheese, peanut butter can't be advertised to children, or nuts like pistachios, but lots of processed nutrition-less junk can be. Of course both are high in fat, but also are high in protein and calcium and for veggie kids like mine (esp. little dd2 who struggles with eating) these are essential. It really worries me that some parents (esp. mums who may already be worried about weight issues) will ban their children from eating cheese. As an adult I watch how much cheese I eat, but it is ludicrous to suggest children should do the same - I'd welcome more adverts for natural product like this during kids' programmes, not less. Marmite ads are banned too.

twelveweekstomaternityleave · 03/01/2007 11:45

We're also the only adult animal which cooks our food though...

twelveweekstomaternityleave · 03/01/2007 11:47

You can get all the calcium you need from veg, (bok choi/ Chinese greens have loads I believe, which I guess could be the reason why the Chinese doen't bother with milk?). You have to eat an awful lot of it though.

zippitippitoes · 03/01/2007 11:48

we are the only adult animal that employs lawyers and communicate via the internet

twelveweekstomaternityleave · 03/01/2007 11:49

I would wear fur if I could afford it!

I eat farmed meat, so have no problem with farmed fur.

twelveweekstomaternityleave · 03/01/2007 11:51

@ zippi

Jimjams2 · 03/01/2007 11:59

I heard they were banning cheese adverts for children as well. Which is ridiculous given that for young children a healthy diet includes fat. proper fat- just make asure they run around as well. Grrr.

Blandmum · 03/01/2007 12:00

hell, cheese is about the only thing that is keeping dh alive atm. Well that and full fat cream, stirred into everything!

jodee · 03/01/2007 12:00

What a load of blxxx. They will be banning Wallace & Gromit next.

Blandmum · 03/01/2007 12:02

12 weeks, the reason that chinease people (and other people from the far east) don't have a tradition of eating dairy is that they are all (just about), as adults, incapable of breaking down lactose. It is a genetic difference between asian people and caucasians. Also true of many peole in the Indian sub continent as well

twelveweekstomaternityleave · 03/01/2007 12:02

So let me get this straight. Iceland can advertise that "smart mums go to Iceland" to buy as many BYGOF packets of potato waffles, frozen desserts and ready meals as they like, but the national dairy council (or similar) is not allowed to advertise cheese?

FFS.