July 7, 2023 – While a recent trend on social media touts cottage cheese as a healthy food, people should be aware that it may contain high levels of sodium and fat, according to experts at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Proponents of cottage cheese on social media, particularly on TikTok, say that the food is healthy because it is low in calories and high in protein. However, “I’m not confident to suggest cottage cheese would be significantly different than other types of cheese,” said Qi Sun, associate professor in the Department of Nutrition and Department of Epidemiology, in a June 30 article in CNBC. He said that while most cheese, including cottage cheese, contains nutrients such as vitamins and calcium, it can also have high levels of sodium and fat, so he recommends eating it in moderation.
Eric Rimm, professor in the Department of Epidemiology, agreed in a July 7 article in the New York Times that people should watch out for high sodium levels in cottage cheese. “It’s kind of like bread—it’s one of those hidden things, like, ‘Wow, I never realized this had so much sodium,’” he said, adding that people with high blood pressure should be careful about eating it. He suggested that when buying cottage cheese, people should choose types that are low in fat and do not contain added sugars.
Read the CNBC article: Health-conscious millennials, Gen Zers are making cottage cheese cool again—but is it really that good for you?
Read the New York Times article: Cottage Cheese Makes a Comeback