Velveeta is a processed cheese product that has been around since the 1920s. It’s known for its smooth, creamy texture and mild cheddar flavor. But when you look at the ingredients list on a package of Velveeta, you may notice that the word “milk” doesn’t appear. So does Velveeta actually contain dairy or not?
The Short Answer
Yes, Velveeta contains dairy ingredients. While it may not contain straight-up milk, it is made with milk proteins and milkfat. So despite some confusion over the ingredients list, Velveeta is not dairy-free.
Examining the Ingredients in Velveeta
The full list of ingredients in Velveeta is:
- Milk Protein Concentrate
- Whey Protein Concentrate
- Milkfat
- Whey
- Salt
- Calcium Phosphate
- Sodium Citrate
- Sodium Phosphate
- Sorbic Acid
- Apocarotenal
- Annatto
- Cheese Culture
As you can see, while the word “milk” isn’t directly listed, Velveeta contains several ingredients derived from milk. Let’s take a closer look:
Milk Protein Concentrate
Milk protein concentrate is a protein powder made by separating and drying the protein components of milk. It contains 40-90% protein by weight.
Whey Protein Concentrate
Whey protein concentrate is also a milk-derived ingredient. It’s produced by removing lipids and minerals from whey, which is the liquid part of milk that separates from the curds during cheese production.
Milkfat
Also listed as just “fat” on some Velveeta ingredients lists, milkfat is the fatty portion of milk. It’s everything that isn’t protein or carbohydrates.
Whey
Whey is the watery part of milk left behind during cheese making. It contains milk sugars like lactose as well as some protein.
So in summary, while the word “milk” may not appear on the label, Velveeta contains multiple ingredients that come straight from milk. These milk-derived ingredients provide the classic cheesy flavor, smooth melting, and pale yellow color that Velveeta is known for.
Why Doesn’t Velveeta List Milk as an Ingredient?
If Velveeta is made from milk, then why doesn’t the ingredient list just say “milk”? There are a couple reasons behind this.
First, listing the individual milk-derived components more accurately reflects the ingredients. Velveeta separates the milk into distinct parts during processing – the proteins, fats, sugars etc. So listing “milk protein concentrate” and “milkfat” rather than just “milk” is more precise.
Second, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has rules around which milk-derived ingredients can simply be labeled as “milk”. According to these regulations, if a product contains certain modifications or derivatives of milk rather than fresh fluid milk, it must list the specific ingredients rather than just labeling it “milk”.
So in summary, while Velveeta starts with milk, the way it’s processed and separated into components means it must list those individual ingredients on the label rather than just lumping them into the generic term “milk”.
Velveeta Contains Lactose
Another sign that Velveeta contains dairy is that it includes lactose, the natural milk sugar. Lactose is only found in animal milk and dairy products.
The exact amount of lactose in Velveeta isn’t listed since it’s not considered a significant nutrient. But according to Kraft, a 1 oz serving of Velveeta contains less than 1g of lactose. So people with lactose intolerance can likely consume small amounts of Velveeta without issue.
Velveeta Has Casein Proteins
Casein is the major family of proteins found in milk and dairy products. During the cheese-making process, casein proteins coagulate and form the solid curds, while the whey proteins remain in the liquid whey.
Velveeta contains casein proteins extracted from milk. These proteins help give it the familiar texture of cheese. In fact, Velveeta is sometimes labeled as a “cheese food” due to containing casein.
Velveeta’s Ingredients Vary Slightly Internationally
In the United States, Velveeta doesn’t list milk as an ingredient. But in some other countries, the ingredients list does contain milk:
- In Canada, Velveeta lists pasteurized milk, modified milk ingredients, bacterial culture, salt, and calcium chloride as its ingredients.
- In the UK, Velveeta is called Cheesy Pasta Bake and its ingredients include milk, butter, and cheese.
So the exact ingredients in Velveeta can vary somewhat depending on the specific country’s labeling regulations. But in all cases, it contains significant amounts of dairy components.
Velveeta Has a “Contains Milk” Allergy Warning
If you look closely at Velveeta’s packaging, you’ll notice it contains an allergy warning that states “Contains milk ingredients”.
Food manufacturers are required to disclose on the label if a product contains major food allergens like milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soybeans. The fact that Velveeta lists milk here provides further confirmation that it contains dairy.
Velveeta Is Not Considered Vegan or Dairy-Free
Given that Velveeta contains milk ingredients, it is generally not considered to be vegan or dairy-free. For example:
- The Vegetarian Resource Group classifies Velveeta as non-vegan due to its milk-based ingredients.
- Consumer advice websites state that Velveeta is not dairy-free or suitable for vegans.
- On food allergy and intolerance sites, Velveeta is listed as a dairy-containing food to avoid.
So although Velveeta’s label seems ambiguous at first glance, the vegan and dairy-free communities consider Velveeta to contain milk-derived components.
Velveeta is Not Considered Kosher Pareve
Kosher Pareve refers to Kosher foods that contain no dairy or meat ingredients. According to Jewish dietary laws, Velveeta is not considered Pareve because it contains dairy-derived ingredients:
- Velveeta is certified Kosher Dairy by KOF-K Kosher Supervision. This means it contains dairy but no meat.
- The Orthodox Union Kosher database classifies Velveeta as “D” or dairy.
- The Star-K Kosher certifier states that Velveeta is dairy based.
So Velveeta is considered compatible with Kosher dietary rules, but does not qualify as pareve or dairy-free under Kosher guidelines.
Velveeta Melts Smoothly Due to Milkfat
One of the things that distinguishes Velveeta from regular cheese is its incredibly smooth, creamy melting texture. This texture comes from its milkfat content.
Milkfat melts at a lower temperature than other fats. It also contains fatty acids that keep the proteins in the cheese spreadable when melted. So Velveeta’s high milkfat content allows it to melt into a silky liquid with no separation or clumping.
Velveeta Must Be Refrigerated Unlike Some “Cheese Products”
Velveeta requires refrigeration at 40°F or below, unlike some highly processed “cheese products” such as cheese dips, squeezable cheese, and powdered cheeses. These types of products can be shelf-stable for months without refrigeration.
The fact that Velveeta requires refrigeration indicates it retains more real dairy components than highly processed cheese-like products. The real milkfat and milk proteins make Velveeta more perishable.
Velveeta Has a Nutrition Profile Similar to Regular Cheese
If you compare the nutrition facts labels between Velveeta and regular Cheddar cheese, you’ll notice the profiles are fairly similar:
| Nutrient | Velveeta | Cheddar Cheese |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 110 cal | 115 cal |
| Fat | 9g | 9g |
| Protein | 7g | 7g |
| Carbs | 3g | 1g |
| Calcium | 15% DV | 20% DV |
Velveeta and cheddar provide about the same amount of calories, fat and protein. And both offer a good amount of calcium, an important mineral found in dairy products. This nutritional similarity provides more evidence that Velveeta contains real dairy like regular cheese.
Velveeta Can Trigger Dairy Allergies
Since Velveeta contains milk-derived ingredients, it can cause allergic reactions in people with dairy allergies:
- According to the Mayo Clinic, processed cheeses like Velveeta often contain enough milk protein to cause allergic reactions.
- The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America includes Velveeta on its list of dairy products to avoid.
- Allergy blogs and forums feature many stories of people reacting to Velveeta due to dairy allergies.
So despite the confusing ingredient list, Velveeta contains enough milk compounds for it to affect those with dairy allergies in the same way that regular cheeses do.
Velveeta’s Manufacturing Process Starts with Real Milk
How exactly is Velveeta made? The process starts with real milk:
- First, milk is separated into curds and whey using enzymes like rennet. The curds contain the milk proteins and most of the fat.
- Next, the whey proteins, milkfat, and other dairy components are extracted and purified from the milk liquids and solids.
- These various dairy ingredients are then blended together along with other additives and preservatives.
- This mixture is processed into the smooth, pliable, slices and blocks of Velveeta.
So despite all the processing and additives, Velveeta begins like most cheeses – with real milk that is separated into curds and whey. This confirms that dairy is an integral ingredient in Velveeta’s production.
Velveeta Has Dairy Designations Like “Cheese Spread” on Its Packaging
If you read Velveeta’s packaging closely, you’ll notice terms like “Pasteurized Process Cheese Spread” and “Cheese Sauce”.
The Code of Federal Regulations defines these types of standardized cheese products as being made from one or more cheeses with added ingredients like milkfat, whey, and stabilizers.
So the fact Velveeta is legally permitted to use the terms “cheese spread” and “cheese sauce” provides further verification it contains real dairy ingredients.
The FDA Closely Regulates What Can Be Marketed as “Cheese”
The FDA has strict standards dictating what types of products can be labeled as cheese or cheese-containing foods. To be labeled as “cheese”, a product must be made from actual cheese ingredients like milk, cream, whey, and milkfat.
The fact that Kraft is legally allowed to label Velveeta a “cheese spread” means the FDA has reviewed its formula and manufacturing process and deemed it to meet the regulatory criteria for cheese products. This approval shows Velveeta contains real dairy components like milk proteins and milkfat.
Velveeta Has a Long History as a Real Cheese Product
Velveeta was invented in 1918 by Emil Frey, a Swiss immigrant working for Monroe Cheese Company in New York. He developed a method to blend leftover cheese bits into a smooth, spreadable mixture.
In 1923, Frey sold his cheese recipe to Kraft. The smooth, creamy cheese product was named Velveeta and marketed to consumers as an easy-to-use cheese ingredient for cooking. A 1932 Velveeta ad stated it was made with real milk, cheese whey, and vegetable oils.
So unlike some hyper-processed cheese products developed in recent decades, Velveeta was formulated early on to contain real cheese and milk components to create a useful and shelf-stable cheese product.
Conclusion
Velveeta may have an ingredient list that seems ambiguous at first glance. But upon closer inspection, it’s clear that Velveeta contains significant amounts of dairy ingredients like milk proteins, milkfat and whey.
While it may be highly processed, diluted with additives, and not meet the technical definition of true “cheese”, Velveeta is absolutely not dairy-free. It contains real milk-derived components that give it the classic cheese flavor and smooth, creamy melting properties it’s known for.
So for those wondering “does Velveeta have dairy”, the answer is a definitive yes. Velveeta has enough real milkfat and milk-based ingredients to trigger dairy allergies and be unsuitable for vegans or those following dairy-free diets. Under FDA regulations and its manufacturing process, Velveeta qualifies as a real cheese product made from dairy.
