In this article, you will find some interesting “cheesy” information, trivia, and a rundown of all the varieties of cheese. Then, you will find intriguing statistics on the dairy industry, as well as the consumption and production of cheese around the world as well as in the United States.
So take a moment to relax and read through these statistics and facts that will make you want to snack on a delicious piece of cheese.
The Top 10 Cheese Statistics and Facts
- As a wedding gift, Queen Victoria was given a wheel of cheddar cheese that weighed more than 1,000 pounds.
- On New Year’s Day 1836, President Andrew Jackson received a big block of cheese weighing 1,400 pounds from Col. Thomas Meacham.
- The top six global vendors in the cheese market are Arla Foods, Fonterra, FrieslandCampina, Savencia, The Lactalis Group, and The Kraft Heinz Company.
- Scientists have proven that you can create cheeses from human beings.
- Cheese production by state shows that Wisconsin produces the most cheese in the US.
- The most expensive cheese in the world is Pule, priced at $600 for a single pound.
- The United States is the second major cheese-producing area after the European Union.
- Out of all the countries, Denmark consumes the most cheese per capita.
- The cheese market in the United States in 2017 was worth $32,291 million.
- American cheese cannot be technically called cheese, but rather “processed cheese” or “cheese product.”
General Cheese Facts
1. The most famous and popular recipe that includes cheese is macaroni and cheese.
(The United States Census Bureau)
This recipe is extremely popular in the United States, with many variations of the recipe and even instant box recipes.
2. As a wedding gift, Queen Victoria was given a wheel of cheddar cheese that weighed more than 1,000 pounds.
(The United States Census Bureau)
Queen Victoria reigned from 1837 to 1901. The average weight for a wheel of cheddar cheese weighs in at around 60 to 75 pounds.
3. There are seven different types of cheese.
(Juliet Harbutt)
These include fresh cheese with no rind, aged fresh cheese, semi-soft cheese, soft white rind, hard cheese, cheese with added flavor, and blue cheese.
4. On New Year’s Day 1836, President Andrew Jackson received a big block of cheese weighing 1,400 pounds from Col. Thomas Meacham.
(ThoughtCo.)
This big block of cheese was eventually served to people visiting the White House. This incident later made its way into pop culture when it was used as the basis for an episode of Aaron Sorkin’s TV show “The West Wing.”
5. Cheese statistics show that cheese is the number one stolen food item in the world.
(Time)
Around 4% of cheese that is produced ends up stolen from grocery stores. This was discovered by the Center for Retail Research in the United Kingdom.
6. Scientists have proven that you can create cheeses from human beings.
(CBS News)
The cheeses are made from bacteria from human toes, belly buttons, armpits, and mouths. This was displayed at Science Gallery Dublin in Trinity College Dublin. The cheese was not made to be consumed or marketed as a food product, and this is just one of many fun facts about cheese.
7. Gouda is the most popular cheese in the world.
(Cheese.com)
Out of all the different varieties of cheese, Gouda accounts for 50–60% of cheese consumption. The Dutch cheese is named after the city Gouda and has a delicious and smokey flavor that makes it so popular around the world.
8. The top six global vendors in the cheese market are Arla Foods, Fonterra, FrieslandCampina, Savencia, The Lactalis Group, and The Kraft Heinz Company.
(businesswire)
These six popular cheese brands were named the most important vendors in the global cheese market between 2016 and 2020.
9. The most expensive cheese in the world is Pule, priced at $600 for a single pound.
(Forbes)
Pule is a crumbly white cheese made from a Balkan donkey’s milk, which you can’t even purchase on the commercial market.
10. The second most expensive cheese in the world is White Stilton Gold, which will cost you $400 for a single pound.
(Forbes)
If you’re wondering why this particular cheese is so much more expensive than other types of white cheese, it’s because White Stilton Gold is made using actual gold.
11. The third most expensive cheese in the world is Wyke Farms Cheddar, and it costs around $200 for a single pound.
(Forbes)
Despite carrying an incredible cost, this cheddar, which takes 12 months to age, is the brand’s most popular cheese. It just shows how much people are willing to pay for a block of quality cheese.
Cheese Production and Consumption Statistics
12. The United States is the second major cheese producing area, right after the European Union.
(Statista)
In 2015, the United States produced around 5.3 million metric tons of cheese.
13. The total amount of cheese produced by the United States in 2017 was around 12.7 billion pounds.
(Agricultural Marketing Resource Center)
This amount of cheese produced by the country was 1.5% more than was produced in 2016, showing an increase in the production of cheese.
14. In the United States, cheese production by state shows that Wisconsin produces the most cheese.
(Statista)
In 2014, Wisconsin produced around 2.91 billion pounds of cheese. Following Wisconsin are California and Idaho as the top three cheese producing states.
15. The amount of cheese consumed per capita in the United States in 2017 was 39 pounds.
(Agricultural Marketing Resource Center)
The most commonly consumed cheeses in the United States are cheddar cheese and mozzarella.
16. Out of all the countries, Denmark consumes the most cheese per capita.
(Statista)
Cheese consumption by country shows that, in 2016, the Danish people consumed an average of around 28.1 kilograms of cheese.
17. Iceland consumed the second-highest amount of cheese per capita out of all countries.
(Statista)
In 2016, the people of Iceland consumed around 27.7 kilograms of cheese.
18. Finland is the country that consumes the third-highest amount of cheese per capita.
(Statista)
The people of Finland consumed around 27.3 kilograms of cheese per capita in 2016.
19. In 2016, the global cheese industry was worth $95.2 billion.
(Statista)
In addition to this, it is also estimated that the industry will be worth $124.2 billion by the year 2022.
20. The cheese market in the United States in 2017 was worth $32,291 million.
(Allied Market Research)
By 2025, it is estimated that the national cheese market will amount to $40,467 million. This includes a CAGR growth of 2.4% between the years 2018 and 2025.
Cheese Nutrition Facts
21. The nine healthiest varieties of cheese include mozzarella and blue cheese.
(Healthline)
The other seven healthiest types of cheese are swiss cheese, parmesan, ricotta, cottage cheese, and feta. So if you’re looking to maintain a healthy lifestyle, these are the cheeses you should be choosing.
22. American cheese cannot be technically called cheese, but rather “processed cheese” or “cheese product.”
(Cheese.com)
This is because it no longer contains blended cheese and instead is highly processed. You will see that if you look at the label, nowhere is it simply referred to as cheese. In most cases, it is referred to as “American slices” or something similar.
23. One of the important cheese facts reveals that cheese contains both fat and protein.
(Very Well Fit)
This is why you feel full, and like you’ve had enough to eat after eating a meal containing cheese.
24. If you’re trying to live a healthy lifestyle, you will want to stay away from cheese singles, cheese spray, and cheese dips.
(Very Well Fit)
These fast-food type cheeses are less healthy cheese options and contain other ingredients and processes which aren’t necessarily good for your health.
25. A thin slice or two small blocks of cheese is enough to be considered a single serving.
(Very Well Fit)
So if you’re looking to lose weight, you might want to watch how much cheese you consume.
FAQs
Who eats the most cheese in the world?
(WorldAtlas)
The country that consumes the most cheese in the world is Denmark. The people of Denmark eat the most cheese, with 28.1 kilograms of cheese consumption per capita. This is enough cheese to consider Denmark a cheese country. The country that consumes the second-highest amount of cheese is Iceland, which eats around 27.7 kilograms of cheese per capita.
The country that consumes the third-highest amount of cheese per capita is Finland. The people in this country eat around 27.3 kilograms per capita. That’s a lot of cheese consumed by these three countries alone.
How much cheese is eaten each year?
(Fox News)
In 2014, each American consumed around 34 pounds of cheese. That’s a large amount of cheese. Whether it is types of blue cheese, types of swiss cheese, variations of cheddar, or Vermont cheese, 34 pounds of cheese is a large amount.
Looking at this dairy data, it must be said that Americans, on average, consume quite a bit of cheese within the space of a year. Is there a link between dairy statistics like this and milk consumption in the US?
What percent of cheese is made in Wisconsin?
(Ehlenbach’s Cheese Chalet)
Wisconsin makes around 26% of the cheese produced by the United States. This makes it the state that produces the most amount of cheese in the country. After Wisconsin, California produces the second-highest amount of cheese in the country. Idaho makes the third-largest amount of cheese in the US. 26% of all cheese made in the United States is a large amount, and it is no wonder then that Wisconsin is known around the country for its production of cheese.
How many types of cheese are there?
(Juliet Harbutt)
There are seven different cheese types. They are put into different categories based on certain components. First off, there is fresh cheese with no rind. Then there is aged fresh cheese. Following that, there are soft white rind cheeses, semi-soft cheeses, hard cheeses, blue cheese, and, lastly, cheeses that have flavors added to them.
With so many different choices, there really is something for everyone. Whether you prefer a strong-tasting, hard cheese, or a softer and milder cheese, there is something for your taste among these seven cheese types.
Who makes the most cheese?
(WorldAtlas)
Germany exports the most cheese out of all the countries in the world. In fact, Europe is responsible for most of the world’s production of cheese. Following Germany are the Netherlands, France, and Italy.
Aside from Europe, the highest amount of cheese is made in the United States. And from within the United States, Wisconsin makes the most cheese in the country, followed by California and Idaho.
Final Thoughts
Cheese is enjoyed all over the world by many people, especially in Denmark, Iceland, and Finland. The above list of cheese statistics and facts offer insight into the industry, production, and consumption of cheese. You have now read through some interesting trivia and cheese-related fun facts. Chances are, you’re already on your way to the fridge to grab a piece of cheese to snack on!
