Latest news with #cottagecheese
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
The 4 'key minerals' that make cottage cheese good for you
Once written off as a bland diet food, cottage cheese has become a versatile dairy staple that's surged in popularity thanks to its creamy texture, high protein content and ability to pair well with both sweet and savory dishes. You'll find it piled on toast with fruit and honey at brunch spots, blended into smoothies at health cafes, scooped alongside tomatoes and crackers at summer barbecues and used as a healthier substitute for cream cheese, heavy cream, ricotta and sour cream. "People are incorporating cottage cheese into almost every recipe you can think of," says Kristen Smith, a registered dietitian nutritionist and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. But as trendy as it has become, is cottage cheese actually good for you? Here's what to know. What is cottage cheese? Cottage cheese is a fresh, unripened cheese known for its mild and tangy flavor and distinctive curds. It's made by curdling milk with an acid or enzyme, then "taking the solid parts of the milk (called curds) after they've been separated from the liquid part known as whey," explains Smith. Once this separation occurs, the curds are "drained, rinsed and seasoned with salt" before often being combined with a "creamy dressing" to create the signature texture we associate with cottage cheese, says Kristina Cooke, a California-based licensed nutritionist and registered dietitian. Its signature lumpiness can vary depending on how the curds are cut and processed. Some varieties feature small curds, while others offer large ones. And sometimes the mixture is whipped together, making a smoother product. No matter which variety you prefer, Cooke says that freshness is what sets cottage cheese apart from other cheeses like cheddar, mozzarella or brie. Aged cheeses undergo fermentation and drying processes that intensify flavor and extend shelf life, while cottage cheese has a higher moisture content and must be refrigerated to prevent spoilage. While this gives it a shorter shelf life, cottage cheese has the advantage of retaining more water-soluble nutrients and offering a lighter, more delicate flavor. Cheese has plenty of protein. But it's not 100% good for you. Is cottage cheese good for you? Cottage cheese has a lot to offer in terms of health benefits. "Cottage cheese is packed with protein, which helps your body build and fix tissue, keeps you feeling full and supports muscle growth," says Smith. Indeed, a 1/2-cup serving offers about 12 to 15 grams of protein – and with a tradeoff of less than 100 calories to boot. Its high protein content, along with being low in calories and carbs, "make cottage cheese an excellent option for people trying to lose weight, build muscle or manage conditions such as type 2 diabetes," says Shelley Rael, a registered dietitian and nutritionist based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This is especially true when it's used as a nutritious substitute for less healthy ingredients, such as replacing mayonnaise in tuna salad, sour cream in dips or creamy dressings atop salads. Cottage cheese is also high in calcium and phosphorus, "which are key minerals for healthy bones, energy and DNA synthesis," says Cooke. And it's a good source of selenium – a powerful antioxidant linked to reduced inflammation and thyroid function; and vitamin B12 – a crucial nutrient for brain health and red blood cell production. "Some types of cottage cheese (those made with live, active cultures) can also give you a boost of probiotics – the good bacteria that help keep your gut healthy," adds Smith. Calcium is a vital part of your diet. Are you getting enough? Can you eat cottage cheese every day? While cottage cheese is a healthy food, it isn't ideal for everyone – or for every meal. One reason is that it contains fat and can be high in sodium. "Some cottage cheese brands can be moderate to high in saturated fat and sodium, which may pose a negative impact on heart health," says Cooke. Indeed, some commercial varieties contain over 400 milligrams of sodium per 1/2-cup serving – nearly 20% of the recommended daily intake. While everyone should monitor their sodium intake, people with high blood pressure or kidney disease need to be especially mindful. And its fat content "can raise your 'bad' LDL cholesterol and increase the chance of heart problems," says Smith. And as a dairy product, cottage cheese contains lactose. "This is a type of sugar that can be difficult for some people to digest," says Smith. Though it contains less lactose than milk, people with lactose intolerance may still experience bloating, cramping or digestive discomfort after eating the cheese. People with dairy allergies or certain autoimmune conditions may also want to steer clear of cottage cheese, notes Rael, as dairy proteins can trigger inflammation and other reactions in sensitive individuals. In the end, "cottage cheese is a great way to add protein to sweet or savory dishes without also adding excess calories or fat," says Cooke. "But if you have elevated cholesterol or blood pressure, consider low-sodium or non-fat options." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is cottage cheese good for you? And how much protein?
Entrepreneur
2 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Entrepreneur
Cottage Cheese Makers Can't Keep Up With Demand
Health influencers made cottage cheese so popular that companies are struggling to produce it fast enough. Once thought of as a kitschy diet food, lumpy bumpy cottage cheese is seeing an unprecedented rise in demand thanks to health influencers on TikTok. CNN reports that "young, protein-hungry consumers have whipped up new recipes and posted them online," creating a buzz that brands and manufacturers are struggling to satisfy. Related: Dubai Chocolate TikTok Popularity Causes Pistachio Shortage John Crawford, SVP of client insights for dairy at the market research firm Circana, told the news outlet that for decades, cottage cheese was considered "your grandparents' food," but "TikTok changed all that." Cottage cheese sales in the U.S. jumped 20% year over year, according to data from Circana. That follows an approximate 17% increase in 2024 and 2023. Cottage cheese is high in protein, low in sugar, and "appropriate for a GLP-1 diet," reports CNN. And has led to a slew of recipe videos that have gone viral on TikTok, like this one for "strawberry cheesecake ice cream." "Organic Valley Cottage Cheese is selling faster than we can make it," Andrew Westrich, marketing manager at Organic Valley, told CNN. Sales increased more than 30% in the first half of 2025, he says. Good Culture went so far as to post an apology to consumers who are having a hard time finding their products on grocery store shelves. "[D]emand has been WILD," they wrote, promising that they "are working around the clock to get us back in stock." Is this just another chapter in the fad diet life of cottage cheese? Crawford doesn't think so. "It is not a fad when you are seeing double-digit growth in both dollars and in volume, quarter over quarter over quarter, for two years," he told CNN.
CNN
4 days ago
- Business
- CNN
TikTok made cottage cheese so popular, producers are struggling to keep up
TikTok Food & drink Sustainability Food & healthFacebookTweetLink Follow When clients used to ask John Crawford if he thought cottage cheese could make a comeback, his answer was an emphatic: 'No.' 'Part of it was texture, part of it was – it was a diet food, it was your grandparents' food,' said Crawford, SVP of client insights for dairy at the market research firm Circana. 'But TikTok changed all that.' For years, cottage cheese was overlooked, relegated to the diet section of old-fashioned diner menus and health food recipes from the 1950s. But recently, young, protein-hungry consumers have whipped up new recipes and posted them online, turning the lumpy cheese into an internet sensation. Now, popular brands and manufacturers are struggling to keep up with skyrocketing demand. Cottage cheese sales jumped 20% in US retail in the 52 weeks through June 15 compared to a year ago, according to data from Circana. That followed a roughly 17% annual bump in both 2024 and 2023 and an 11% increase in 2022. The surge marked a turnaround from 2021, when cottage cheese sales fell from the year prior. Cottage cheese is so popular, it made grocery chain Albertons' CEO Susan Morris do a double take. 'I had to double check the numbers, but cottage cheese is actually a strong growth category,' Morris said during a July analyst call discussing quarterly financial results. Some brands have seen even higher spikes, creating spot shortages. Sales of Organic Valley's cottage cheese grew over 30% in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period last year, according to the co-op. 'Organic Valley Cottage Cheese is selling faster than we can make it,' said Andrew Westrich, marketing manager at Organic Valley. Good Culture, a decade-old cottage cheese brand that is featured prominently in many TikTok videos, has seen its sales explode to the point where it can't keep product on shelves. On July 2nd, the company acknowledged the situation on its Instagram page. 'We know it's been hard to find us lately,' read the caption on the meme-filled post. 'We see the DMs, know demand has been WILD and are working around the clock to get us back in stock.' Customers 'call, email, and post about us when they can't find us,' said Jesse Merrill, CEO and founder of Good Culture. 'The insane demand for our products and our struggle to keep up with it prompted us to acknowledge the shortage.' Merrill saw the potential for cottage cheese back in 2014, he said. It took about ten years for health food influencers to catch up. Cottage cheese, a popular diet food in the middle of the 20th century, was well past its heyday when Good Culture officially launched in 2015. But since then, Americans have been increasingly looking for foods that are high in protein, low in sugar and appropriate for a GLP-1 diet. At the same time, dairy has gotten more popular, with per capita consumption rising in the US. Cottage cheese fits the bill on all fronts. And creative home chefs have figured out how to mask its texture. By spring of 2023, recipes for cottage cheese ice cream were going viral on TikTok. Scores of videos showed food influencers marveling over strawberry cheesecake ice cream, banana cream pie ice cream, berry banana ice cream and more — all made with cottage cheese. Now, in addition to ice cream, interested parties can find recipes for everything from buffalo chicken dip to bagels and biscuits. One account for a self-described health coach has a series of videos simply titled 'how to make cottage cheese taste good.' Coming up with more ways to use a product at home 'can drive an entire category,' Circana's Crawford said. And sellers of the until-recently not-very-cool cheese are leaning in. Cabot Creamery, which makes a Vermont-style cottage cheese (a mix of large and small curds), has posted recipes for cheesecake dip, pizza toast and queso on its website. Good Culture took advantage of its own viral moment with an ad campaign embracing the various ways of preparing and consuming its product. The sustained interest has Crawford convinced that demand for cottage cheese isn't just a passing craze. 'It is not a fad when you are seeing double-digit growth in both dollars and in volume, quarter over quarter over quarter, for two years,' he said. Now manufacturers just have to catch up. To increase supply, Good Culture has started working with more manufacturing partners. But it can't do much more at the moment. 'Most existing production facilities are maxed out,' Merrill said. Good Culture plans to have 'significantly more capacity available' early next year, he added. Organic Valley also works with contract manufacturers, 'many of whom are actively expanding capacity or adding production shifts to meet rising demand,' said Westrich, adding that 'the environment is highly competitive.' Dairy processors have started to build out more production, but it will take time to get new plants or equipment up and running. Daisy Brand, a major producer of cottage cheese and sour cream, recently broke ground on a new facility in Iowa. And Westby Cooperative Creamery, a farmer-owned dairy co-op that sells cottage cheese under its own brand and also makes it for private label and foodservice providers, is investing in new cottage cheese vats. Currently, Westby can make about 14.5 million pounds of cottage cheese per year, said Emily Bialkowski, the co-op's sales and marketing manager. But 'our orders are exceeding that by no less than 30%, and that does not include new inquiries,' she said. The new vats should be operational in the fall of next year, she said, noting that 'word is getting out … and many of our current customers have lined up to pre-commit to additional volume.' For now, Westby is partially filling customer orders. So cottage cheese fans will have to be patient. Or wait until TikTok moves on to the next big thing.
CNN
4 days ago
- Business
- CNN
TikTok made cottage cheese so popular, producers are struggling to keep up
When clients used to ask John Crawford if he thought cottage cheese could make a comeback, his answer was an emphatic: 'No.' 'Part of it was texture, part of it was – it was a diet food, it was your grandparents' food,' said Crawford, SVP of client insights for dairy at the market research firm Circana. 'But TikTok changed all that.' For years, cottage cheese was overlooked, relegated to the diet section of old-fashioned diner menus and health food recipes from the 1950s. But recently, young, protein-hungry consumers have whipped up new recipes and posted them online, turning the lumpy cheese into an internet sensation. Now, popular brands and manufacturers are struggling to keep up with skyrocketing demand. Cottage cheese sales jumped 20% in US retail in the 52 weeks through June 15 compared to a year ago, according to data from Circana. That followed a roughly 17% annual bump in both 2024 and 2023 and an 11% increase in 2022. The surge marked a turnaround from 2021, when cottage cheese sales fell from the year prior. Cottage cheese is so popular, it made grocery chain Albertons' CEO Susan Morris do a double take. 'I had to double check the numbers, but cottage cheese is actually a strong growth category,' Morris said during a July analyst call discussing quarterly financial results. Some brands have seen even higher spikes, creating spot shortages. Sales of Organic Valley's cottage cheese grew over 30% in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period last year, according to the co-op. 'Organic Valley Cottage Cheese is selling faster than we can make it,' said Andrew Westrich, marketing manager at Organic Valley. Good Culture, a decade-old cottage cheese brand that is featured prominently in many TikTok videos, has seen its sales explode to the point where it can't keep product on shelves. On July 2nd, the company acknowledged the situation on its Instagram page. 'We know it's been hard to find us lately,' read the caption on the meme-filled post. 'We see the DMs, know demand has been WILD and are working around the clock to get us back in stock.' Customers 'call, email, and post about us when they can't find us,' said Jesse Merrill, CEO and founder of Good Culture. 'The insane demand for our products and our struggle to keep up with it prompted us to acknowledge the shortage.' Merrill saw the potential for cottage cheese back in 2014, he said. It took about ten years for health food influencers to catch up. Cottage cheese, a popular diet food in the middle of the 20th century, was well past its heyday when Good Culture officially launched in 2015. But since then, Americans have been increasingly looking for foods that are high in protein, low in sugar and appropriate for a GLP-1 diet. At the same time, dairy has gotten more popular, with per capita consumption rising in the US. Cottage cheese fits the bill on all fronts. And creative home chefs have figured out how to mask its texture. By spring of 2023, recipes for cottage cheese ice cream were going viral on TikTok. Scores of videos showed food influencers marveling over strawberry cheesecake ice cream, banana cream pie ice cream, berry banana ice cream and more — all made with cottage cheese. Now, in addition to ice cream, interested parties can find recipes for everything from buffalo chicken dip to bagels and biscuits. One account for a self-described health coach has a series of videos simply titled 'how to make cottage cheese taste good.' Coming up with more ways to use a product at home 'can drive an entire category,' Circana's Crawford said. And sellers of the until-recently not-very-cool cheese are leaning in. Cabot Creamery, which makes a Vermont-style cottage cheese (a mix of large and small curds), has posted recipes for cheesecake dip, pizza toast and queso on its website. Good Culture took advantage of its own viral moment with an ad campaign embracing the various ways of preparing and consuming its product. The sustained interest has Crawford convinced that demand for cottage cheese isn't just a passing craze. 'It is not a fad when you are seeing double-digit growth in both dollars and in volume, quarter over quarter over quarter, for two years,' he said. Now manufacturers just have to catch up. To increase supply, Good Culture has started working with more manufacturing partners. But it can't do much more at the moment. 'Most existing production facilities are maxed out,' Merrill said. Good Culture plans to have 'significantly more capacity available' early next year, he added. Organic Valley also works with contract manufacturers, 'many of whom are actively expanding capacity or adding production shifts to meet rising demand,' said Westrich, adding that 'the environment is highly competitive.' Dairy processors have started to build out more production, but it will take time to get new plants or equipment up and running. Daisy Brand, a major producer of cottage cheese and sour cream, recently broke ground on a new facility in Iowa. And Westby Cooperative Creamery, a farmer-owned dairy co-op that sells cottage cheese under its own brand and also makes it for private label and foodservice providers, is investing in new cottage cheese vats. Currently, Westby can make about 14.5 million pounds of cottage cheese per year, said Emily Bialkowski, the co-op's sales and marketing manager. But 'our orders are exceeding that by no less than 30%, and that does not include new inquiries,' she said. The new vats should be operational in the fall of next year, she said, noting that 'word is getting out … and many of our current customers have lined up to pre-commit to additional volume.' For now, Westby is partially filling customer orders. So cottage cheese fans will have to be patient. Or wait until TikTok moves on to the next big thing.
CNN
4 days ago
- Business
- CNN
TikTok made cottage cheese so popular, producers are struggling to keep up
When clients used to ask John Crawford if he thought cottage cheese could make a comeback, his answer was an emphatic: 'No.' 'Part of it was texture, part of it was – it was a diet food, it was your grandparents' food,' said Crawford, SVP of client insights for dairy at the market research firm Circana. 'But TikTok changed all that.' For years, cottage cheese was overlooked, relegated to the diet section of old-fashioned diner menus and health food recipes from the 1950s. But recently, young, protein-hungry consumers have whipped up new recipes and posted them online, turning the lumpy cheese into an internet sensation. Now, popular brands and manufacturers are struggling to keep up with skyrocketing demand. Cottage cheese sales jumped 20% in US retail in the 52 weeks through June 15 compared to a year ago, according to data from Circana. That followed a roughly 17% annual bump in both 2024 and 2023 and an 11% increase in 2022. The surge marked a turnaround from 2021, when cottage cheese sales fell from the year prior. Cottage cheese is so popular, it made grocery chain Albertons' CEO Susan Morris do a double take. 'I had to double check the numbers, but cottage cheese is actually a strong growth category,' Morris said during a July analyst call discussing quarterly financial results. Some brands have seen even higher spikes, creating spot shortages. Sales of Organic Valley's cottage cheese grew over 30% in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period last year, according to the co-op. 'Organic Valley Cottage Cheese is selling faster than we can make it,' said Andrew Westrich, marketing manager at Organic Valley. Good Culture, a decade-old cottage cheese brand that is featured prominently in many TikTok videos, has seen its sales explode to the point where it can't keep product on shelves. On July 2nd, the company acknowledged the situation on its Instagram page. 'We know it's been hard to find us lately,' read the caption on the meme-filled post. 'We see the DMs, know demand has been WILD and are working around the clock to get us back in stock.' Customers 'call, email, and post about us when they can't find us,' said Jesse Merrill, CEO and founder of Good Culture. 'The insane demand for our products and our struggle to keep up with it prompted us to acknowledge the shortage.' Merrill saw the potential for cottage cheese back in 2014, he said. It took about ten years for health food influencers to catch up. Cottage cheese, a popular diet food in the middle of the 20th century, was well past its heyday when Good Culture officially launched in 2015. But since then, Americans have been increasingly looking for foods that are high in protein, low in sugar and appropriate for a GLP-1 diet. At the same time, dairy has gotten more popular, with per capita consumption rising in the US. Cottage cheese fits the bill on all fronts. And creative home chefs have figured out how to mask its texture. By spring of 2023, recipes for cottage cheese ice cream were going viral on TikTok. Scores of videos showed food influencers marveling over strawberry cheesecake ice cream, banana cream pie ice cream, berry banana ice cream and more — all made with cottage cheese. Now, in addition to ice cream, interested parties can find recipes for everything from buffalo chicken dip to bagels and biscuits. One account for a self-described health coach has a series of videos simply titled 'how to make cottage cheese taste good.' Coming up with more ways to use a product at home 'can drive an entire category,' Circana's Crawford said. And sellers of the until-recently not-very-cool cheese are leaning in. Cabot Creamery, which makes a Vermont-style cottage cheese (a mix of large and small curds), has posted recipes for cheesecake dip, pizza toast and queso on its website. Good Culture took advantage of its own viral moment with an ad campaign embracing the various ways of preparing and consuming its product. The sustained interest has Crawford convinced that demand for cottage cheese isn't just a passing craze. 'It is not a fad when you are seeing double-digit growth in both dollars and in volume, quarter over quarter over quarter, for two years,' he said. Now manufacturers just have to catch up. To increase supply, Good Culture has started working with more manufacturing partners. But it can't do much more at the moment. 'Most existing production facilities are maxed out,' Merrill said. Good Culture plans to have 'significantly more capacity available' early next year, he added. Organic Valley also works with contract manufacturers, 'many of whom are actively expanding capacity or adding production shifts to meet rising demand,' said Westrich, adding that 'the environment is highly competitive.' Dairy processors have started to build out more production, but it will take time to get new plants or equipment up and running. Daisy Brand, a major producer of cottage cheese and sour cream, recently broke ground on a new facility in Iowa. And Westby Cooperative Creamery, a farmer-owned dairy co-op that sells cottage cheese under its own brand and also makes it for private label and foodservice providers, is investing in new cottage cheese vats. Currently, Westby can make about 14.5 million pounds of cottage cheese per year, said Emily Bialkowski, the co-op's sales and marketing manager. But 'our orders are exceeding that by no less than 30%, and that does not include new inquiries,' she said. The new vats should be operational in the fall of next year, she said, noting that 'word is getting out … and many of our current customers have lined up to pre-commit to additional volume.' For now, Westby is partially filling customer orders. So cottage cheese fans will have to be patient. Or wait until TikTok moves on to the next big thing.
