Which Cheese is Healthier: 5% or 28% Fat?

When we're trying to maintain our health and weight, many of us focus on the fat percentage of cheese when shopping. But is this figure really that important? Dr. Maya Roseman, a nutrition expert and clinical dietitian, addressed this question on her 103fm radio show when a listener asked about the difference between cheeses with varying fat percentages. Is the cheese with 28% fat less healthy than the one with 5% fat?

Dr. Roseman managed to surprise her audience in this context. According to her, the main difference lies in calorie content, not the ingredients themselves. In fact, the ingredients in both 5% and 28% fat cheeses are almost identical. She explained, "A very thin slice of cheese with 28% fat can have the same calorie content as a regular slice of cheese with 5% fat. So there's no real need to panic about the numbers on the package; it's more important to pay attention to quantities and how it's sliced."

Additionally, she addressed questions about preservatives in cheese. According to her, there isn't a significant difference in shelf life between cheeses with preservatives and those without. "Even cheeses marketed as being free from preservatives tend to last similarly to those containing them," she added.