It is widely believed that cottage cheese is one of the most healthy foods. After all, it is rich in protein, essential amino acids, trace elements, especially calcium and phosphorus, various vitamins. But often in shops and markets under the guise of cottage cheese they are offered a curd product. What is it?
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What is the difference between a curd product and cottage cheese
Cottage cheese contributes to the normalization of metabolism, the formation of bone tissue. In addition, it is well absorbed, therefore it is especially useful for children and the elderly. It is not surprising that many people try to regularly use cottage cheese.
According to GOST, cottage cheese is a product that is made from whole milk with the addition of natural animal fats and natural starter cultures. From the moment of manufacture, such a product can be stored for no more than 72 hours (of course, in the refrigerator).
Buyers are often offered a product that does not meet these conditions. The most common violation is the use of vegetable fats, not animal fats, in the production process. Usually it is palm or coconut oil (a mixture of these oils can also be used).
As a result, the cost of the product is markedly reduced, because such vegetable fats are much cheaper than natural animal fats!
In addition, in order to reduce costs, part manufacturers use not whole, but powdered milk as raw materials. And finally, to extend the shelf life, various artificial antioxidants and stabilizers can be added to the product, which, of course, cannot be in natural cottage cheese.
According to current regulations, the manufacturer must indicate these substances on the packaging.
If there is no such information, but the indicated storage period exceeds 72 hours, you can be sure that this is not cottage cheese, but a cottage cheese product.