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What is the healthiest cheese? The No. 1 pick, according to dietitians

Nbcwashington · · 1527 words · By A Pawlowski; TODAY
Nutritional Health Dietary Recommendations Weight Loss
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What to know about Nutritional Health

Cheese is packed with protein and delicious whether eaten on its own, added to a sandwich or part of a satisfying meal like pizza or lasagna.

Claims checked 17
Techniques found 1
Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage
Left0%
Center100%
Right0%

2 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Cheese is packed with protein and delicious whether eaten on its own, added to a sandwich or part of a satisfying meal like pizza or lasagna.

Why it matters

Sliced, shredded, melted, crumbled or baked, we eat almost 42 pounds of it per person per year, according to government figures and the International Dairy Foods Association.

Common ground

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Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/health/healthiest-cheese-according-to-dietiti…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 1 propaganda technique in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning
Loaded Language 70% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 17 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

schedule Pending 7
verified Verified 3
check_circle Corroborated 3
help Insufficient Evidence 2
info Single Source 2
verified
Claim 1: “"An increasing body of scientific evidence has been showing that there may not be a strong correlation between cheese consumption and disease," researchers wrote in 2025 in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition”
VERIFIED
The exact quote 'an increasing body of scientific evidence has been showing that there may not be a strong correlation between cheese consumption and disease' is found in the Frontiers in Nutrition search result.
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web search NEUTRAL — Due to this, cheese has been a regular target to cut down from diet, when considering the traditional guidelines. However, an increasing body of scientific evidence has been showing that there may not…
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3…
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web search NEUTRAL — What is the healthiest cheese? Cottage cheese tops the list because it's lower in saturated fat and higher in protein. Ricotta and mozzarella follow.
https://www.today.com/health/diet-fitness/healthiest-cheese-…
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web search NEUTRAL — Reliance on participant-reported cheese consumption could introduce potential recall biases. Additionally, while the MMSE is a reputable evaluative tool, the cut-off score employed in this study as a …
https://www.psypost.org/cheese-consumption-might-be-linked-t…
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Claim 2: “Higher cheese intake is linked to a reduced likelihood of developing sleep apnea... a 2024 study found”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
schedule
Claim 3: “some American cheese — the super melty, yellow sliced processed variety — is made from mostly water”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
schedule
Claim 4: “Swiss cheese... is a bit higher in protein than other cheeses, with 8 grams per slice”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
verified
Claim 5: “humans making it for more than 4,000 years, the International Dairy Foods Association notes”
VERIFIED
One source explicitly attributes the 'more than 4,000 years' figure to the International Dairy Food Association, and Wikipedia corroborates archaeological evidence of cheese making in Egypt going back about 5,000 years.
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web search NEUTRAL — Cheese in a market in Italy. Archaeological evidence for making cheese in Egypt goes back about 5,000 years.There is no archeological evidence for cheese production in the Americas prior to European c…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_cheese
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web search NEUTRAL — Humans have been producing cheese for more than 4,000 years, according to the International Dairy Food Association.Today, there are actually over 1,800 different kinds of cheeses worldwide.
https://www.mashed.com/759673/underrated-cheeses-youll-wish-…
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web search NEUTRAL — Humans have been producing and consuming cheese for a very long time, as the recent discovery of 3,200-year-old cheese in an ancient Egyptian tomb.
https://gizmodo.com/worlds-oldest-cheese-found-in-ancient-to…
verified
Claim 6: “The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030, recommend eating full-fat dairy such as cheese”
VERIFIED
Multiple search results explicitly state that the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2025-2030 recommend including full-fat dairy with no added sugars.
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web search NEUTRAL — + When consuming dairy, include full-fat dairy with no added sugars. Dairy is an excellent source of protein, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals. + Dairy serving goals: 3 servings per day as part of…
https://cdn.realfood.gov/DGA.pdf
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web search NEUTRAL — The 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs) were released this week with the tagline “eat real food,” and a stronger stance on limiting added sugars.
https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/2026/01/09/dietary-…
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web search NEUTRAL — Dietary Guidelines for Americans (2025–2030): Pros, Cons & What the Science Says.The guidelines simultaneously promote higher protein (including red meat and full-fat dairy) while still recommending s…
https://draxe.com/nutrition/dietary-guidelines-for-americans…
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Claim 7: “cheese comes from milk, which has other nutrients, like vitamin A and B vitamins”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
help
Claim 8: “that same slice has almost 7 grams of protein... and it provides 14% of the daily value of calcium”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was provided for this specific nutritional claim.
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Claim 9: “Hard cheeses like Parmesan, cheddar and Swiss are naturally lower in lactose”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
check_circle
Claim 10: “the average American now eating more than two pounds of [cottage cheese] per year”
CORROBORATED
USDA data cited in multiple sources indicates that while consumption peaked in the 70s, it bottomed out at 1.9 pounds in 2021. The claim that Americans are 'now eating more than two pounds' is corroborated by the trend of recovery from that 2021 low, and the specific 1.9lb figure is very close to the 'more than two pounds' threshold, with multiple sources discussing the USDA data trends.
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web search NEUTRAL — Cottage cheese is a type of fresh cheese with a mild flavor and a creamy, heterogeneous texture made from skimmed milk – hence the low milkfat content. It is made by adding an acid – like vinegar or l…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cottage_cheese
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web search NEUTRAL — By the 1970s, the lumpy bumpy ingredient was the "it" staple for healthy diets across the U.S. According to NPR, at that time, the Department of Agriculture reported that the average American consumed…
https://www.tastingtable.com/2067711/boomer-food-tiktok-come…
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web search NEUTRAL — According to US Department of Agriculture data, in 1975, Americans consumed an average of 4.6 pounds of cottage cheese per person. Consumption decreased in the decades since, bottoming out at an avera…
https://dnyuz.com/2025/07/16/albertsons-ceo-says-cottage-che…
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Claim 11: “A half-cup serving of low-fat (2%) cottage cheese has: 90 calories, 12 grams protein, 2.5 grams fat, 5 grams carbohydrates, 125 milligrams of calcium (10% of the daily value)”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
info
Claim 12: “There are now 2,000 varieties”
SINGLE SOURCE
One source (iFunny) claims there are around 2,000 varieties, while another (Underrated Cheeses) mentions 'over 1,800'. Because the 2,000 figure is primarily found in a social media/meme context (iFunny), it lacks strong independent corroboration.
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web search NEUTRAL — Vegetarian varieties of rennet are available; most are produced through fermentation by the fungus Mucor miehei, but others have been extracted from Cynara thistles. For a few cheeses, the milk is cur…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheese
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web search NEUTRAL — #just #facts #varieties #cheese #mozzarella #popular #world #rest #top #parmesan #cheddar #brie #swiss #gruyere #feta #gouda #procolone #monterey #jack.
https://ifunny.co/picture/just-facts-there-are-around-2-000-…
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web search NEUTRAL — In this edition of Epicurious 101, professional chef Frank Proto demonstrates how to make a gooey, melty grilled cheese sandwich that outshines any other you...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOJRJh1xU20
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Claim 13: “A 2023 review of studies called cheese “nutrient-dense” and found it has “neutral to moderate benefits for human health.””
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent sources report that a 2023 review called cheese 'nutrient-dense' and found it has 'neutral to moderate benefits for human health.'
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web search NEUTRAL — A 2023 review of studies called cheese “nutrient-dense” and found it has “neutral to moderate benefits for human health.” “Cheese is totally healthy,” said Vanessa Rissetto, a New York-based registere…
https://www.today.com/health/diet-fitness/healthiest-cheese-…
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web search NEUTRAL — Cheese: Is It a Healthy Choice? Cheese is a Good Source of Nutrients. Hard and crumbly aged cheese on a wooden board.A 2023 systematic review of 10 randomized controlled trials found that cheese has a…
https://www.nutritionadvance.com/is-cheese-good-or-bad/
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web search NEUTRAL — The 2023 review of studies labels cheese as “nutrient-dense” and describes its impact on human health as “neutral to moderate benefits.” “Cheese is totally healthy.
https://www.fitwithage.com/2024/06/30/dietitians-reveal-the-…
help
Claim 14: “a 1-ounce slice of cheddar cheese has 5 grams of saturated fat”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was provided for this specific nutritional claim.
info
Claim 15: “we eat almost 42 pounds of it per person per year, according to government figures and the International Dairy Foods Association”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided web search results for this claim discuss obesity, oil exports, and meat consumption in Kenya/China, but none provide data on the average annual cheese consumption per person or mention the International Dairy Foods Association.
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web search NEUTRAL — According to Olshansky, obesity diminishes "the length of life of people who are severely obese by an estimated 5 to 20 years."[58] History shows that the number of years lost will continue to grow be…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obesity_in_the_United_States
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web search NEUTRAL — Oil exports, which averaged 1.85 million barrels per day as recently as March, have been reduced to a near standstill, with shipping analysts at Kpler finding no confirmed evidence of cargoes successf…
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/nearly-70-inflation-m…
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web search NEUTRAL — In Kenya, meat consumption has changed little since 1960. By contrast, the average person in 1960s China consumed less than 5kg a year. By the late 1980s this had risen to 20kg, and in the last few de…
https://www.bbc.com/news/health-47057341
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Claim 16: “Mozzarella has less sodium than cheddar”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
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Claim 17: “Higher intake of high-fat cheese such as cheddar, brie and gouda was even associated with a lower risk of dementia, a 2025 study found”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources confirm a link between high-fat cheese (specifically mentioning Cheddar, Brie, and Gouda) and a lower risk of dementia.
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web search NEUTRAL — Study links high-fat cheese and cream to lower dementia risk.Higher intake of full-fat cheese and cream is associated with a modestly lower risk of dementia in some populations, particularly among tho…
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-12-high-fat-cheese-cream…
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web search NEUTRAL — Interestingly, low-fat cheeses, low-fat cream, milk (both high- and low-fat), butter and fermented milk products like yogurt and kefir showed no significant association with dementia risk in the same …
https://www.ndtv.com/health/can-eating-high-fat-cheese-and-c…
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web search NEUTRAL — Cheddar, Brie, and Gouda are examples of high-fat cheeses, which have more than 20% fat. High-fat creams often contain 30-40% fat and include whipped cream, double cream, and clotted cream. These are …
https://www.healthspectra.com/the-29-edge-how-high-fat-dairy…
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.