Americans have strong opinions on American cheese

Item falls on favorite list and least favorite list

Cheese is one of those versatile foods offering something for almost everyone.

There’s feta, havarti, provolone and cheddars galore. Gouda, Colby, asiago and gorgonzola.

There are now lactose-free options, vegan cheese food options and fat-free options too.

But when it comes to American cheese, people tend to fall into two camps: “Delicious!” or “Yuck!”

In honor of National Cheese Day last week, the Today Show ran a list of America’s top five favorite cheeses, as found by Innit.

Cheddar took the lead, followed by mozzarella, American, pepper jack and provolone.

The vote was close. Cheddar had 17 percent of the votes, followed by mozzarella at 15 percent and American at 14. America’s least favorite cheese was blue, followed by limburger, goat, American and Swiss.

The results are interesting, with American cheese landing on both lists.

According to cheese.com, American is a type of pasteurized processed cheese, under the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations. It’s made from a blend of milk, milk fats and solids, with other fats and whey protein concentrate.

However, Mental Floss notes that once upon a time, American cheese was once a blend, usually of cheddar and Colby, which made for “easy melting and approachable flavor.” And American cheese sold at deli counters is usually made from real cheese, Mental Floss reports.

According to Thrillist.com, the cheese has a strong following, at least when it comes to grilled cheese sandwiches. The website reports that every year, Americans eat more than 2 billion Kraft grilled cheese sandwiches, which would require a staggering amount of American cheese slices.

So here’s the question, Yuma. Where do you fall on American cheese? Is it delicious happiness, a reminder of childhood and grilled cheese sandwiches? Or are you not so much for it?

Let us know. Share your thoughts online at www. YumaSun.com, or send in a Letter to the Editor at letters@yumasun.com.