uppliers authorized to use the ‘Grated Cheese Quality Controlled’ label do not add more starch than the percentage permitted under the statutory provisions.

This percentage is just enough to retain the free-flowing properties, and has no effect on the flavour. Product bearing the label does not contain fats other than milk fat.

Food safety is obviously self-explanatory; the safety of grated cheese is assured by means of the continuous monitoring of its quality. Moreover, all manufacturers of grated cheese have been granted EU approval, as is evident from the oval identification mark on their packaging. In addition, many companies’ operations are certified (for example, by COKZ, HACCP, BRC, IFS, SKAL-ECO, ISO22000 and GMP+).

The inspections are carried out by Qlip, specialised in the analysis of raw milk and dairy products, quality assurance and process certification.

These inspections are not without obligation! If the relevant company is found to have exceeded any limits, the company will be fined. The affiliated companies voluntarily invest in the agreed quality assurance and laboratory analysis to ensure the high quality standard and safety for the retail sector and ultimately for the consumer.

Subsequent parameters are structurally inspected within the ‘Grated Cheese Quality Controlled’ programme: starch, fat other than milk fat, yeasts, moulds and Enterobacteriaceae.