View source for Cheez Whiz

{{pp-vandalism|small=yes}}
{{Short description|Trademarked processed cheese dip}}
{{use MDY dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Distinguish|Easy Cheese}}{{More citations needed|date=January 2009}}
{{Infobox brand
| name           = Cheez Whiz
| logo           = Cheezwhiz kraft logo.png
| logo_size   = 150
| image          = Whiz wit' Pat.gif
| image_size   = 200
| caption        = A [[cheesesteak]] sandwich with Cheez Whiz at [[Pat's King of Steaks]] 
| producttype    = [[Sauce]]
| currentowner   = [[Kraft Heinz]]
| producedby     = [[Kraft Foods]]
| country        = U.S.
| introduced     = {{start date and age|1952}}
| discontinued   = 
| related        = 
| markets        = 
| previousowners = 
| trademarkregistrations = 
| ambassadors    = 
| tagline        = 
| website        = 
| module         = <!-- or: misc -->
| module1        = <!-- or: misc1 -->
| footnotes     =
}}
'''Cheez Whiz''' is a brand of [[processed cheese]] sauce and [[cheese spread|spread]] produced by [[Kraft Foods]]. It was developed by a team led by food scientist Edwin Traisman (1915–2007). It was first sold in 1952, and, with some changes in formulation, continues to be in production today.<ref>{{citation|title=Right out of the Kraft kitchen|type=5-column trade ad|location=Lubbock (TX)|newspaper=Morning Avalanche|date=7 November 1952|mode=cs1}}</ref><ref>{{citation|title=Now grand cheese dishes fast|type=Kraft 3-column ad|location=Syracuse (NY)|newspaper=Herald-Journal|date=25 November 1952|mode=cs1}}</ref>

Orangish-yellow in color, it usually comes in a glass jar and is used as a topping for various foods, including [[corn chips]] and [[hot dog]]s. It is also frequently used as the cheese in a [[Philadelphia]]-style [[cheesesteak]]. It is marketed in Canada, Mexico, the Philippines, the United States, and Venezuela. In the United States, it has a reputation as being [[junk food]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sweeney |first1=Erica |title=The Surprising Reason Fitness Buffs Are Eating Cheez Whiz |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/cheez-whiz-cla_l_5c7ff3e9e4b020b54d81349b |access-date=16 September 2022 |work=HuffPost |date=11 March 2019 |language=en}}</ref>

== Ingredients ==
{{Infobox nutritional value
| name         = Cheez Whiz Original Cheese Dip
| serving_size = 2 tbsp (33&nbsp;g)
| kcal         = 80
| carbs        = 5 g
| fibre        = 0 g
| sugars       = 3 g
| fat          = 5 g
| satfat       = 1 g
| transfat     = 0 g
| protein      = 3 g
| cholesterol  = 5 mg
| sodium_mg    = 410
| source       = [https://web.archive.org/web/20170506083114/http://stgapi.kraftapps.com/ecommclient/product/view/184 Kraftapps.com]
}}
A 1953 ad in Kraft Foods’ home city, Chicago, included a label illustration listing the product’s original ingredients: “American Cheese, Water, Nonfat Dry Milk Solids, Condensed Whey, Sodium Phosphate, Cream, Worcestershire Sauce, Lactic Acid, Mustard, Salt, U.S. Certified Color--Moisture 52%, Milkfat 28%.”<ref>"New Hit with Millions: Kraft’s Cheez Whiz (advertisement).” Chicago Tribune, 29 November 1953.</ref><ref>The same ingredients are seen in a 1954 national magazine ad: "The best soup idea in years!" (Cheez-Whiz advertisement). LIFE, 22 March 1954, 111.</ref>

In 1958 (U.S.) national advertising, the ingredient list (on product label) was very similar: “American Cheese, Water, Condensed Whey, Nonfat Dry Milk,  Sodium Phosphate, Cream, Salt, Lactic Acid, Worcestershire Sauce, Mustard, Artificial Color--Moisture 52%, Milkfat 20%”<ref>"America's wonderful crackers are extra good when you Cheez Whiz 'Em" (advertisement). LIFE 45:8 (25 August 1958), 48</ref>--and 1964's was identical,<ref>"Good crackers taste super when you Cheez Whiz 'Em" (advertisement). Woman's Day, April 1964, 13.</ref> as was 1972's.<ref>"Impromptu Fondue" (Kraft advertisement). Woman's Day, October 1972, 159.</ref> Canada's ingredients weren't necessarily identical; for 1975 they were listed as "Canadian Cheese, Water, Milk Solids, Butter, Sodium Phosphate, Salt, Worcestershire Sauce, Mustard Flour, Sorbic Acid, Natural Color."<ref>"A Very Good Morning With Cheez Whiz" (advertisement). Chatelaine (Toronto) 48:9 (September 1975), 87.</ref>

As of 2016, Kraft describes Cheez Whiz as a "cheese dip" with the word ''cheese'' spelled correctly. According to a Kraft spokesman, the product does include cheese, but the company has chosen to list its parts—such as cheese culture and milk—instead of cheese as a component itself.<ref name="Moss 2013" />
{{quote|Ingredients: [[whey]], [[milk]], [[canola oil]], [[maltodextrin]], [[milk protein concentrate]], [[sodium phosphate]], contains less than 2% of [[modified food starch]], [[salt]], [[lactic acid]], [[whey protein concentrate]], [[mustard (condiment)|mustard flour]], [[Worcestershire sauce]] (vinegar, molasses, corn syrup, water, salt, caramel color, garlic powder, sugar, spices (contains celery), tamarind, natural flavor), [[sodium alginate]], [[sorbic acid]] as a preservative, [[color additive|color added]], [[cheese culture]], [[enzymes]], [[natural flavor]]<ref name=ingredients>{{cite web|website=Kraft Foods|url=http://www.kraftrecipes.com/products/kraft-cheez-whiz-original-chees-183.aspx|title=Kraft Cheez Whiz original cheese dip 8 oz. jar}}</ref> }}

== Sizes ==
In some markets, the product has been sold in a narrow jar that tapered narrower towards the base, and sold as a spread. When Cheez Whiz is advertised as a dip or a sauce, the jars are larger and more of a squat cylindrical shape.

== Varieties ==

Varieties include:
* Cheez Whiz
* Cheez Whiz Light
* Cheez Whiz Tex Mex
* Salsa Con Queso
* Cheez Whiz Italia
* Cheez Whiz Bacon
* Cheez Whiz Pimento

Cheez Whiz can also be found in "Handi Snacks" products such as [[Ritz Crackers|Ritz]] Cheez Whiz 'n' Crackers in Canada.

Cheez Whiz was reformulated in the early 21st century.<ref name="Moss 2013" /> The new formula is used for Cheez Whiz Light (15.5&nbsp;oz) as well as the Original Big Cheese (15&nbsp;oz). The products' jars were also widened to allow dipping.

== Formula change ==

Over the years since the product's creation, Kraft has altered its recipe due to changes in dairy sourcing and the regulatory environment, resulting in a reduction of cheese content. Kraft also made a change in the way that it lists its ingredients; away from listing components (like cheese) to listing its parts (such as milk and cheese culture). Such changes are common throughout the food industry, and are often done without announcement.<ref name="Moss 2013">{{cite book|last=Moss|first=Michael|date=2013|title=Salt Sugar Fat|publisher=Random House|pages=[https://archive.org/details/saltsugarfathowf00mich/page/161 161]–162|isbn=978-0-8129-8219-0|url=https://archive.org/details/saltsugarfathowf00mich|url-access=registration}}</ref>

Dean Southworth, who was part of the original team that developed Cheez Whiz in the 1950s, described a jar he sampled in 2001 as tasting "like axle grease".<ref name="Moss 2013"/>

== See also ==
* [[Cheese sauce]]
* [[Easy Cheese]]{{spaced ndash}} a form of cheese product in a spray can
* [[Kraft Dinner]]
* [[Plant cheese]]
* [[Velveeta]]
* [[Welsh rarebit]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons}}
* [https://www.myfoodandfamily.com/product/00068100010206/cheez-whiz-cheese-spread?categoryid=10187 Official website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20210211052216/http://www.kraftbrands.com/cheezwhiz/ Archived website] (Feb 11, 2021)

{{Kraft Foods Group}}
{{Processed cheese}}
{{Cheesesteak}}

[[Category:Kraft Foods brands]]
[[Category:Processed cheeses from the United States]]
[[Category:Products introduced in 1952]]
[[Category:Spreads (food)]]