The way cheeses are processed accounts for their major differences. The curds may or may not be aged, or ripened.
Aged cheese is processed further by being shaped, coated in wax or colored.
Both fresh and aged cheeses may have added ingredients such as herbs, spices and even bits of fruit. Pasteurized process cheese is a blend of one or more varieties of natural cheese that is ground and heated. Because the process stops the ripening, the flavor doesn't change, and these cheeses keep well. American is probably the most well-known of these cheeses. Pasteurized process cheese often is flavored with herbs, spices and even bits of fruit, vegetables and meat.