Consumers in Bulgaria consumed almost 6,000 tons of imitation cheese in the first six months of the year, according to the latest data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food. The largest quantities were produced in March - 1,095 tons, and in June - 1,049 tons, the ministry announced.
"Every sixth product in stores may contain added foreign fats", warns the "Active Consumers" association. Experts warn that the systematic consumption of imitation products with palm oil and hydrogenated fats may increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases and obesity.
According to the Bulgarian State Standard (BDS), cheese is a dairy product made entirely from milk and sourdough, with a fat and protein content characteristic of the respective type - cow, sheep, goat or buffalo. All other products with vegetable fats must be clearly labeled as "imitating product" or "product with vegetable fats".
The production of imitation products is decreasing compared to previous years. For the entire year of 2024, consumers consumed nearly 13,000 tons of cheese with vegetable fats, while in 2023 the amount was 12,867 tons.
Most often, imitation products are offered in restaurants, bakeries and hotels that operate on an "all inclusive" system. Due to the increase in the price of palm fats, some processors are replacing them with more water in the cheese, adding rubber or humectants.
"This cheese is not considered an imitation product, it is simply the water content that must be written on the label," the industry explains. At the same time, the production of real cow's cheese decreased by 320 tons compared to January-June 2024.
Experts advise consumers to pay attention to the following signs when purchasing:
The label – real cheese should contain only milk, starter, yeast and salt. If there are any mentions of "vegetable fats", "palm oil", "starch" or "emulsifiers", the product is an imitation.
Price - traditional cheese has a higher cost. If you see an offer for white brine cheese at a price significantly below 10 leva per kilogram, it is almost certainly an imitation product.
Type and consistency - real cheese is dense, can be crumbled, but does not crumble like chalk and is not rubbery. When cutting, there should be a slight moisture from the brine, but no greasy film on the knife.
Taste - natural cheese has a slightly sour taste due to the starter. If the taste is too neutral, oily or artificially salty, this is a signal of imitation.
Melt - when baked or heated, the cheese should melt and brown. Imitative products often flow in greasy spots or do not melt at all.
Nutritionists warn that regular consumption of products with vegetable fats, especially palm oil, can lead to an increase in blood cholesterol levels. This provokes conditions such as atherosclerosis, thrombosis of the vessels and other cardiovascular diseases.
"Such products are especially harmful for young children, whose digestive system would have difficulty processing these types of fats", health specialists warn.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food is trying to push through a bill that would oblige supermarkets to have at least 80% of the dairy products on their shelves labeled "Made in Bulgaria". The question remains open as to how the state will guarantee the quality of Bulgarian products.