reSee.it Video Transcript AI Summary
The transcript discusses a bioengineered ingredient used in most U.S. cheese, claimed to have been invented by Pfizer and approved by the FDA in 1990. It states that the enzyme, called chymosin, is a synthetic version of renin, an enzyme found in a calf’s stomach that turns milk into cheese. According to the speaker, this version was created in a lab using petri dishes where bacteria and fungi are used to mass-produce the enzyme, enabling cheesemakers to produce cheese faster, in larger batches.
The speaker asserts that this ingredient is not labeled as GMO. They list cheeses that supposedly contain it, including Kirkland sharp cheddar, fresh mozzarella, Philadelphia cream cheese, Tillamook sharp cheddar, Babybel, essentially all Sargento cheese, and most Kraft products. They claim there are many more cheeses with the ingredient, and provide a top 30 list, implying widespread use.
The speaker also notes that you cannot avoid this ingredient by buying imported cheeses, explaining that many European cheeses imported and sold in the United States also use it, giving President Brie as an example. They offer alternatives for those wanting cheeses without this ingredient: buy USDA organic or European cheeses that have the PDO stamp.
A connection is suggested between the ingredient’s approval and an uptick in dairy allergies, proposing a potential link to a condition that might need treatment. The speaker questions whether the invention prioritized quantity over quality and ends with a reflective prompt, asking the audience what they think and inviting comments.
Key points emphasized:
- In 1990, the FDA approved a bioengineered enzyme called chymosin, a synthetic version of calf stomach renin, produced in a lab with bacteria and fungi to mass-produce cheese-enabling enzymes.
- The claim that 90% of U.S. cheese uses this ingredient, and that it is not labeled as GMO.
- Specific cheeses named as containing the ingredient: Kirkland sharp cheddar, fresh mozzarella, Philadelphia cream cheese, Tillamook sharp cheddar, Babybel, essentially all Sargento cheese, Kraft products; a top 30 list is referenced.
- Imported European cheeses also use the ingredient, with President Brie given as an example.
- Ways to avoid the ingredient: choose USDA organic or European cheeses with the PDO stamp.
- Suggested link between the ingredient’s approval and a rise in dairy allergies; a claim that the invention prioritized quantity over quality.
- The speaker invites viewer engagement with a question about whether it was worth it.