Patent ID: 7279192

Claim:
A shelf-stable shredded cheese composition comprising (1) natural or process cheese, (2) cheese powder, (3) glycerin, and (4) filler; wherein the shelf-stable shredded cheese composition has a water activity of less than about 0.5, exhibits good melting properties, has a shelf life of at least about 3 months at ambient temperatures, and wherein the shelf-stable shredded cheese composition comprises (1) about 10 to about 20 percent natural or process cheese, (2) about 30 to about 45 percent cheese powder, (3) about 5 to about 15 percent glycerin, (4) about 20 to about 40 percent filler, (5) 0 to about 3 percent sweetness modifier, and (6) 0 to about 3 percent emulsifier.