United States

Department of

Agriculture

Agricultural 

Marketing

Service

Dairy

Programs

USDA Specifications

for Loaf, Sliced, Shredded

and Diced Muenster Cheese

Effective March 1, 2001
1

Compliance with these specifications does not excuse failure to comply with the

provisions of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.

1 March 1, 2001

USDA Specifications for Loaf, Sliced, Shredded and Diced Muenster Cheese1

1 Plant Requirements

Muenster cheese shall be manufactured and packaged in accordance with the

requirements contained in 7 CFR part 58, Grading and Inspection, General Specifications

for Approved Plants and Standards for Grades of Dairy Products and be inspected by the

AMS, Dairy Grading Branch.

2 Product Age and Temperature Requirements

Muenster cheese shall be aged no less than 10 days at 380

F to 450F (3.50C to 70C) prior to

inspection. Muenster cheese may be aged before or after the cheese is sliced, shredded or

diced.

3 Regulatory

Muenster cheese shall comply with all applicable Federal regulations including those

contained in 21 CFR Part 133.160 for Muenster and muenster cheese, and when

appropriate those contained in 21 CFR Part 133.146 for grated cheese.

4 Composition Requirements

Milkfat

Muenster cheese in loaf, sliced and diced form shall contain not less than 

50 percent milkfat by weight of the solids. Muenster cheese in shredded 

form shall contain not less than 49 percent milkfat by weight of the solids.

Moisture

Muenster cheese shall contain not more than 46 percent moisture.

pH
2 March 1, 2001

Muenster cheese shall not have a pH exceeding 5.4 using the quinhydrone method.

Salt

Muenster cheese shall contain not less than 1.2 percent and not more than 2.0 percent salt.

5 Quality Requirements

Muenster cheese samples shall be tempered to 450

F to 550F (70C to 130C) prior to product

evaluation.

Flavor

Muenster cheese shall possess a mild and pleasing flavor and may possess slight feed

flavors.

Body and Texture

Muenster cheese shall be firm, possess a smooth, pliable body and may exhibit either

small mechanical openings evenly distributed or a close body. The cheese may be slightly

curdy. It shall not possess sweet holes, yeast holes or other gas holes. 

Muenster cheese in sliced form: Muenster cheese in the sliced form shall easily separate

from one another and not exhibit a rough surface or possess torn corners. 

Muenster cheese in shredded form: Shredded Muenster Cheese shall have a height and

width up to 3/16 inch in either dimension. It shall be free flowing and shall not be matted. 

An approved anticaking agent may be added to shredded cheese. If anticaking agent is

used, the amount used shall be the minimum required to produce the desired effect, but

shall not exceed 2.0 percent of the weight of the shredded cheese.

Muenster cheese in diced form: Muenster cheese in diced form shall have all dimensions

of the dice relatively equal.
3 March 1, 2001

Fines

Shredded Muenster Cheese shall not contain more than 6.0 percent fines. For 

shreds whose height and/or width is 1/16 inch or less, the fines content shall be

determined using a Standard Test Sieve #14 (1.4 mm). For shreds whose height and/or

width is greater than 1/16 inch, the fines content shall be determined using 

a Standard Test Sieve #8 (2.36 mm).

Note: The manufacturer shall provide shred size information. This information

will determine the sieve used to measure the fines content. If shred size

information is not provided, the Standard Test Sieve #8 will be used.

Color and Appearance

Muenster cheese shall possess a natural, uniform, and bright color. Muenster cheese in

the loaf form may possess an orange surface color, typically provided on Muenster

cheese. If surface color treated loafs are sliced, shredded or diced, such slices, shreds or

dice may exhibit the surface color of the loaf. No visible signs of mold shall be

permitted.

6 Official Identification

Muenster cheese that is officially inspected and found to meet the requirements may be

identified with the official USDA Quality Approved Inspection Shield.