A new probiotic Cheddar and lighter Feta are the latest healthier offerings from cheese manufacturers.

Pilgrims Choice medium probiotic cheddar from North Downs Dairy is a six-month matured Cheddar containing a robust strain of probiotic culture that can survive the manufacturing process. Its launch will be backed by TV ads as part of a marketing campaign kicking off in the spring.

MD Mike Davies said the probiotic cheese was a 'one size fits all' Cheddar for the whole family, adding: "It offers a new way to incorporate friendly bacteria into a balanced diet and enhances the healthy eating credentials of cheese - already an important source of calcium, protein and vitamins."

Arla's Apetina Light Feta Cubes have 50% less fat than the standard product and aim to attract new, health-conscious consumers.

As The Grocer's Weigh It Up campaign shows, cheese is one of the highest-profile casualties of the Food Standards Agency's Nutrient Profiling Model because its calcium and protein content can't be counted to balance out its relatively high fat. The market performed well last year, as the Grocer's Top Products Survey 2006 revealed, with value rising 3.6% to £1.85bn, but dairy companies are increasingly looking at ways to boost consumer perception of their products' health credentials.

Dairy Crest has just launched a reduced-fat version of its market-leading cheddar, Cathedral City Lighter, while the Bel Group has added an Omega-3 option to Laughing Cow and Fayrefield Foods has launched Heartfelt+ which claims to reduce cholesterol.

Last year, Cricketer Farm and Butlers Farmhouse Cheeses both launched probiotic cheeses while Wyke Farms came up with a cheese alternative called Leskol with 95% less saturated fat and only two-thirds of the calories.


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