Cal. Code Regs. tit. 3, § 415 – Varieties.

(a) In accordance with the requirements of Section 37402 of the Food and Agricultural Code, standards of composition, aging periods and labeling requirements are hereby established for special varieties of cheese as follows:
Variety
Minimum Milk Fat Percent on Dry Basis
Maximum Percent Moisture
Minimum Aging Period
Asadero
40
55
Asiago (fresh or soft)
50
45
60 days
Asiago, medium
45
35
6 months
Asiago, old
42
32
1 year
Bakers
NS^*
80
Blue
50
46
60 days
Brandella Acidified Part Skim
30
52
Brick, brick for manufacturing
50
44
Caciocavallo siciliano
42
40
90 days
Caciocavallo, uncured part skim
30
52
Caciocavallo, uncured whole milk
40
52
Cook or Koch
NS^*
80
Edam
40
45
Farmers
20
80
Feta
45-50
50
Gammelost
NS^*
52
Gouda
46
45
Gorgonzola
50
42
90 days
Gruyere
45
39
90 days
Hard
50
39
Hard grating
32
34
6 months
Limburger
50
50
Part skim milk cheese^****
30-44^***
55
Mozzarella, uncured, part skim
30
52
Mozzarella, uncured, whole milk
40
52
Muenster, Munster
50
46
Neufchatel
20-33^**
65
Nuworld
50
46
60 days
Parmesan, Reggiano
32
32
10 months
Part skim spiced
20-50
NS^*
Provolone, pasta filata
45
45
Queso Anejo Skim
NS^*
55
Queso Enchilado Skim
NS^*
55
Ricotta
11
80
Part skim Ricotta
6-11^**
80
Whey-Ricotta
0-6^**
80
Romano
38
34
5 months
Roquefort, sheep's milk blue mold, blue mold from sheep's milk
50
45
60 days
Samsoe
45
41
60 days
Sapsago
NS^*
38
5 months
Semisoft
50
39-50
Semisoft part skim
45-50
50
Skim milk cheese^****
0-30^***
55
Sheep's milk blue-mold
50
45
60 days
Skim milk cheese for manufacturing
NS^*
50
Soft ripened
50
NS^*
Spiced
50
NS^*
Swiss, Emmentaler
43
41
60 days
Swiss for manufacturing
43
41
60 days
Teleme
50
54
* NS--Means no standard.
** On product basis.
*** Label must show fat content on a product basis. The declaration to be accurate within the limits of good manufacturing practice.
**** The term shall be preceded by or followed by a common, or usual name or an arbitrary or fanciful name which is not false or misleading in any particular.
(b) Panella, Queso Blanco, Queso Fresco, and Jalapeno may be labeled skim cheese, part skim cheese, or whole milk cheese, as the case may be, in letters of the same size, style, and color of the varietal name. The moisture content shall not exceed 55 percent.
(c) The special varieties of cheese listed herein shall be labeled with the varietal name and subject to standards of composition and method of manufacture for the variety indicated. When no varietal name has been established, the fat and moisture standards should determine into what general classification the cheese falls, and such classification shall appear on the label preceded or followed by the specific or common name of such cheese; or if no specific or common name has become generally recognized therefor, an arbitrary or fanciful name which is not false or misleading in any particular.
(d) All special varieties of cheese shall be made from pasteurized milk or held 60 days before offered for sale with the exception of those cheeses which require a holding time as part of the cheese-making process. In such cases, the minimum age shown in the above table shall apply. Pasteurized milk only shall be used for Muenster, Munster and Cook or Koch cheese. Caciocavallo cheese or Mozzarella cheese when sold fresh or uncured shall be made from pasteurized milk and/or pasteurized skim milk.
(e) The labeling provisions of Sections 37971-37976 of the Food and Agricultural Code are applicable to all special varieties of cheese.
(f) When milk other than cow's milk is used in whole or part, the label shall include the statement, “made from __________,” the blank being filled in with the name or names of the milk used in the order of predominance by weight.
(g) The following cheeses in the form of slices or cuts in consumer-sized packages may contain not more than 0.2 percent by weight of sorbic acid and shall be labeled “sorbic acid added to retard mold growth” or “sorbic acid added as a preservative,” if such cheese contains sorbic acid: Cheddar cheese, cheese; washed curd cheese, soaked curd cheese; colby cheese; granular cheese; Swiss cheese, Emmentaler cheese; Gruyere cheese; brick cheese; Muenster cheese, Munster cheese; Monterey cheese, Monterey jack cheese; provolone cheese, pasta filata cheese; caciocavallo siciliano cheese; Asiago fresh cheese, Asiago soft cheese; Asiago medium cheese; Asiago old cheese; Mozzarella cheese; semisoft cheeses; semisoft part-skim cheeses; pasteurized process cheese; pasteurized blended cheese; pasteurized process cheese with fruits, vegetables, or meats; pasteurized process pimento cheese; pasteurized blended cheese with fruits, vegetables, or meats; pasteurized process cheese food with fruits, vegetables, or meats.
(h) The following cheeses in the form of slices or cuts in consumer-sized packages may contain not more than 0.3 percent by weight of sodium propionate, calcium propionate, or a combination of sodium propionate and calcium propionate and the label shall bear the statement “__________ added to retard mold growth” or “__________ added as a preservative,” the blank being filled in with the names of the substance or substances used, if the cheese contains either or both of the substances:
Pasteurized process cheese; pasteurized blended cheese; pasteurized process cheese with fruits, vegetables or meats; pasteurized process pimento cheese; pasteurized blended cheese with fruits, vegetables, or meats; pasteurized cheese food; pasteurized process cheese food with fruits, vegetables or meats.

Note: Authority cited: Sections 407 and 37402, Food and Agricultural Code. Reference: Sections 37402, 37971-37976, Food and Agricultural Code.

History

1. Amendment of subsection (a) filed 10-19-67; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 67, No. 42). For prior history, see Register 64, No. 13.

2. Repealer and new section filed 4-25-75; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 75, No. 17).

3. Amendment of subsection (a) filed 8-12-80; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 80, No. 33).

4. Editorial correction of table heading (Register 2023, No. 5).