On Sun, 27 Nov 2011 07:35:33 -0500, "Steve Freides" > wrote:

>> I make my grilled cheese sandwiches with soft wheat bread, American
>> cheese (not cheese product, etc.) for its meltability....
>
>The Wiki says American cheese is just like Velveeta in that it's a
>"processed cheese product". Cheddar melts just fine as does every other
>actual cheese I've ever tried. Nothing wrong if you like American
>cheese, but you seem to be giving it credit for being more than it is.

The Wiki is using the word "product" as a general term, and it should not, in
this context. In the US, there is a legal distinction by the FDA (Food and Drug
Administration) encoded in the CFR (Code of Federal Regulations)."

CFR Title 21, Article 133:
"In case it is made of cheddar cheese, washed curd cheese, colby cheese, or
granular cheese or any mixture of two or more of these, it may be designated
"Pasteurized process American cheese"; or when cheddar cheese, washed curd
cheese, colby cheese, granular cheese, or any mixture of two or more of these is
combined with other varieties of cheese in the cheese ingredient, any of such
cheeses or such mixture may be designated as "American cheese.""

If it has the word "product" on the label, it does not meet the requirements for
either of the above categories.

-- Larry