Lactose Intolerant? Set Your Sights On Cabot® Creamery's New Lactose Free Mild Cheddar

CABOT, Vt., April 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Thanks to Cabot Creamery Cooperative's new Lactose Free Mild Cheddar, life just got easier for those who live with lactose intolerance. Wrapped in bright new blue and green packaging and prominently labeled LACTOSE FREE, Cabot's new Lactose Free Mild Cheddar is easy to spot on store shelves, and takes the guess work out of what cheese to choose for people who are lactose intolerant.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120213/MM52737LOGO)

Lactose intolerance is the inability to adequately digest the natural sugar (lactose) that occurs in milk. According to the National Dairy Council, the true prevalence of lactose intolerance (also known as lactose maldigestion) is unknown, but many experts suggest that at least 25 percent of the nation's population experiences some form of lactose maldigestion with Asian, Hispanic, Native and African Americans being the most heavily affected.

"While we may not know exactly how many people are truly affected by lactose intolerance, what we do know is that they are hungry for great tasting, lactose free dairy foods," says Cabot's National Nutrition Communications Manager and registered dietitian, Regan Jones. "Sales of lactose-free milk have increased rapidly in recent years. Cabot's new Lactose Free Mild Cheddar is the perfect cheese choice for these consumers. It's protein-rich, calcium-dense and tastes great," Jones explained. 

"As a registered dietitian I am constantly working to dispel the myth that cheese always contains lactose because it's made from milk, when the reality is that Cabot's cheddar cheese is naturally lactose free. Our Grilled Summer Pizza is the perfect example of how using Cabot's Lactose Free Cheddar can enable people living with lactose intolerance to easily enjoy some of those favorite foods that may have seemed off limits in the past," says Jones.

Cabot's new Lactose Free Mild Cheddar is now available at Winn-Dixie and Wal-Mart stores throughout Florida and Winn-Dixie stores throughout Louisiana and in Birmingham, Alabama as well as online at: CabotCheese.coop

Grilled Summer Pizza

Makes 4 Servings

Ingredients:

2 large vine-ripened tomatoes
1 pound homemade or store-bought pizza dough
2 tablespoons olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
8 ounces Cabot Mild Lactose-Free Cheddar, Sharp Cheddar, or Extra Sharp Cheddar, grated* (about 2 cups)
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves

Directions:

1. Prepare medium-hot fire on one half of charcoal grill or preheat one side of gas grill to high, leaving other side unlit (if gas grill has only one burner, preheat to high and lower heat to cook second side.)

2. Remove core from tomatoes; cut in half crosswise and gently squeeze out as many seeds and juice as will come out easily. Cut into thin slices.

3. Divide pizza dough into 4 equal balls; on floured work surface, roll/stretch each ball out into approximate 6-inch circle. Bring dough and toppings to grill.

4. Place two dough circles on heated side of grill; when dough is puffed and browned on underside, about 2 minutes, turn over with tongs and cook until second side is lightly colored, about 1 minute longer.

5. Remove crusts from grill. Drizzle each with some of the olive oil. Cover with half of tomato slices and season with salt and pepper. Top with half of cheese and scatter half of thyme leaves on top. Return to unheated side of grill (or reduce heat on one-burner gas grill to very low). Cover grill and cook pizzas until cheese is melted, about 3 minutes. Slide pizzas back over heat or increase heat if crust needs additional crisping on bottom.

6. Use tongs to slide pizzas onto serving plate or cutting board. Repeat with remaining dough circles and toppings.

*Nutrition analysis for Cabot Extra Sharp Cheddar.

Nutrition Analysis

Calories 347, Total Fat 27g, Saturated Fat 12g, Cholesterol 60mg, Sodium 485mg, Carbohydrates 12g, Dietary Fiber 1g, Protein 16g, Calcium 420mg

To access a hi-res version of Cabot's Lactose Free Mild Cheddar, go to: https://default.imagerelay.com/sb/857a7c9e-6f6a-11e1-8770-12313b07d511

About Cabot Creamery Cooperative

Cabot Creamery Cooperative has been in continuous operation in Vermont since 1919, and makes a full line of cheeses, yogurt, sour cream, cottage cheese and butter. Widely known as makers of "The World's Best Cheddar," Cabot is owned by the 1250 dairy farm families of Agri-Mark, the Northeast's premier dairy cooperative, with farms located throughout New England and upstate New York. For more information on Cabot, visit: http://www.cabotcheese.coop

United Nations Declares 2012 "International Year of Cooperatives"

The year 2012 is recognized by the UN as the International Year of Cooperatives.  As proud members of the Cooperative Community, Agri-Mark and its Cabot and McCadam brands support and promote the cooperative business model in recognition of the fact that cooperatives drive the economy, respond to social change, are resilient to global economic crisis and are serious, successful businesses creating jobs in all sectors.  To learn more about the 2012 International Year of Cooperatives, go to: 2012 IYC

April is National Volunteer Month

Cabot Creamery believes in the power of volunteer work. In February 2012, the company launched Reward Volunteers, the nation's first mobile app that allows volunteers to log hours, post to Facebook and win rewards for themselves and the organizations they serve. The app is free and available on iTunes. It can be used on iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, and as a web-based program on RewardVolunteers.coop.

Contact: Bob Schiers
(888) 214.9444 or bschiers@cabotcheese.coop

SOURCE Cabot Creamery Cooperative