As a pescatarian dipping their toes further into the plant-based water, alternative cheese options are always on my radar. I’ve found that some offerings do not deliver on texture, but Saputo Dairy USA’s new brand promises to do just that. The company is launching its new Vitalite™ brand of plant-based, vegan-certified, dairy-free cheese nationwide this year.
“As demand for vegan cheese continues to grow, many consumers have been vocal about how difficult it has been to find a plant-based cheese that lives up to their expectations,” said David Cherrie, Vice President, Marketing and Innovation. “As a dairy company, we are experts at making cheese people love and crave. Where other plant-based cheeses fall short, we saw an opportunity to use our expertise in the cheese category to create a delicious plant-based alternative.”
The new range of cheeses offers the ideal meltability to consumers looking for a plant-based cheese that mimics its dairy counterpart. As I already mentioned, texture is one area where Saputo focused its attention, and the offerings do not lack in flavor either.
Laura Prepon, actress, director, cooking enthusiast, and creator of the PrepOn Kitchen culinary line is a Vitalite ambassador. She is partnering with the Vitalite brand to showcase some of her favorite ways to incorporate plant-based cheese into family meals, a press release noted.
“I like to live a flexitarian lifestyle and it wouldn’t be possible without the right ingredients. That’s why Vitalite plant-based cheeses have become a staple in our home,” said Prepon. “I’ve also recently found out that my children have sensitivities to dairy, so we use Vitalite plant-based cheese for basics like grilled cheese and quesadillas or sprinkled on tacos, as well as in more in-depth recipes like my black bean and quinoa burgers stuffed with cheddar-style cheese. All of our expectations of yummy, melty, cheesy goodness are met!”
Vitalite is available in six varieties:
“People following a plant-based or flexitarian diet have limited options in the grocery store and many of those options lack appeal,” said Chef Nikki Trzeciak, Executive Chef and Senior Manager of Culinary and Sensory. “The idea for Vitalite came out of trying to solve that. We want home cooks to feel liberated in the kitchen and inspired to create traditional foods they have an emotional connection to without compromise.”
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