Cheese product, pasteurized process, American, vitamin D fortified
Whole food · Dairy and Egg Products
Photo: Wikipedia
This is the quintessential American cheese slice, a smooth, meltable processed cheese product with a mild, salty, and creamy flavor. Its signature orange hue comes from annatto, and it's fortified with Vitamin D. Nutritionally, it's a dense source of protein and fat, providing a quick energy boost.
Calorie split: 21% protein · 12% carbs · 68% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People adore it for its unmatched meltability and nostalgic, comforting flavor that defines classic dishes like the grilled cheese sandwich and cheeseburger. Its mild, salty creaminess is a crowd-pleaser, especially for children.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
It is high in sodium and saturated fat, which can be a concern for heart health and blood pressure. To enjoy it wisely, use it as a flavorful accent rather than the main event, pair it with fiber-rich vegetables or whole-grain bread, and be mindful of portion sizes. It also contains common dairy allergens.
Key benefits
- Excellent source of high-quality protein for muscle maintenance.
- Fortified with Vitamin D to support bone health.
- Highly meltable, making it ideal for cooking and binding.
- Provides a quick and convenient source of calories and fat.
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
American cheese was invented in the 1910s by James L. Kraft, who patented a process for making a shelf-stable, uniformly melting cheese product that could be shipped long distances.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 45.1 g |
| Energy | 307 kcal |
| Energy | 1286 kj |
| Protein | 16.1 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 23.1 g |
| Ash | 6.9 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 8.8 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 0.00 g |
| Total Sugars | 6.2 g |
| Sucrose | 0.00 g |
| Glucose | 0.00 g |
| Fructose | 0.00 g |
| Lactose | 6.1 g |
| Maltose | 0.00 g |
| Galactose | 0.14 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 1375 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 0.95 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 34.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 768 mg |
| Potassium, K | 295 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 1279 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 2.2 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.03 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 0.06 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 16.2 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 0.00 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.04 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.42 mg |
| Niacin | 0.17 mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.46 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.12 mg |
| Folate, total | 18.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 18.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 18.0 ug |
| Choline, total | 35.8 mg |
| Betaine | 1.2 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 1.5 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 270 ug |
| Retinol | 248 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 248 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 1.0 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 23.0 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 1261 iu |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 60.0 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.84 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Tocopherol, beta | 0.00 mg |
| Tocopherol, gamma | 0.04 mg |
| Tocopherol, delta | 0.00 mg |
| Tocotrienol, alpha | 0.01 mg |
| Tocotrienol, beta | 0.01 mg |
| Tocotrienol, gamma | 0.00 mg |
| Tocotrienol, delta | 0.02 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3), International Units | 259 iu |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 6.5 ug |
| Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) | 6.5 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 3.1 ug |
| Vitamin K (Menaquinone-4) | 5.0 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 12.9 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.44 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.37 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.24 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.57 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.68 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 2.1 g |
| SFA 15:0 | 0.22 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 5.9 g |
| SFA 17:0 | 0.13 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 2.2 g |
| SFA 20:0 | 0.03 g |
| SFA 22:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 24:0 | 0.01 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 5.7 g |
| MUFA 14:1 | 0.20 g |
| MUFA 15:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.38 g |
| MUFA 16:1 c | 0.31 g |
| MUFA 17:1 | 0.04 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 5.0 g |
| MUFA 18:1 c | 4.4 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.04 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 c | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 24:1 c | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 0.99 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 0.80 g |
| PUFA 18:2 n-6 c,c | 0.53 g |
| PUFA 18:2 CLAs | 0.11 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.10 g |
| PUFA 18:3 n-3 c,c,c (ALA) | 0.09 g |
| PUFA 18:3 n-6 c,c,c | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:3i | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 20:2 n-6 c,c | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 20:3 | 0.02 g |
| PUFA 20:3 n-3 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:3 n-6 | 0.02 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.03 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 22:4 | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans | 0.82 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans-monoenoic | 0.66 g |
| TFA 16:1 t | 0.07 g |
| TFA 18:1 t | 0.59 g |
| TFA 22:1 t | 0.00 g |
| TFA 18:2 t not further defined | 0.16 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans-polyenoic | 0.16 g |
| Cholesterol | 78.0 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
Estimated from Tomato products, canned, sauce, with herbs and cheese — USDA does not publish this profile for Cheese product.
| Tryptophan | 0.02 g |
| Threonine | 0.06 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.07 g |
| Leucine | 0.11 g |
| Lysine | 0.11 g |
| Methionine | 0.03 g |
| Cystine | 0.02 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.07 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.06 g |
| Valine | 0.08 g |
| Arginine | 0.09 g |
| Histidine | 0.05 g |
| Alanine | 0.06 g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.20 g |
| Glutamic acid | 0.64 g |
| Glycine | 0.04 g |
| Proline | 0.11 g |
| Serine | 0.08 g |
FAQ
Is American cheese real cheese?
It's a 'pasteurized process cheese product,' meaning it's made by blending real cheeses (like cheddar and colby) with emulsifiers, milk, and other ingredients to create a consistent, meltable product.
Why does it melt so well without separating?
The added emulsifying salts (like sodium citrate) prevent the proteins and fats from separating when heated, resulting in a smooth, creamy melt.
Is it a good source of calcium?
Yes, it typically provides a significant amount of calcium per serving, often around 20-25% of the daily value, supporting bone and teeth health.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 3.07 kcal/g · 21% calories from protein · 0.0 g fiber · 6.2 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 4.34 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.