Who Makes Aldi's Store-Brand Sprinkle Parmesan Cheese?

Aldi's shelves are filled with must-have items, and one of those might just be its Reggano Grated Parmesan and Romano Cheese, which costs $3.09 for an 8-ounce container. But who actually makes this tasty topping? Aldi doesn't officially name the supplier or third-party company on the packaging. This item — sold under the brand's Reggano label, reserved for its Italian-style food products — simply lists Aldi as the distributor. However, some online have suggested that Kraft Heinz could be the manufacturer behind this Parmesan cheese, and there are a few reasons why.

As pointed out by YouTube reviewer FoodFights back in 2020, the packaging of Kraft's Grated Parmesan Cheese looks "very similar" to Aldi's. Both items feature a green lid and label, and both are available in 8-ounce containers of the same shape. The ingredients are almost identical, too, as both list Parmesan cheese and cellulose powder. The main difference is that Kraft uses natamycin, a natural mold inhibitor, while Aldi's uses potassium sorbate instead. This is also a common preservative used to prevent mold and protect flavor. As for the product itself, FoodFights claimed that Aldi's version smells more like cheese and "tastes better."

Of course, if you prefer to buy your cheese fresh rather than pre-grated, Aldi has you covered. While there's an array of cheeses that you should (and shouldn't) buy from the budget supermarket, one that customers seem to favor is the Emporium Selection Parmesan Cheese Wedge. It's no secret that whole Parmesan cheese can be rather pricey, especially for well-aged and imported varieties, but this particular one will only set you back $4.85 for 8 ounces.

For those who prefer non-powdered cheese but don't want to use a grater, another Aldi option is its Specially Selected Shaved Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese, which one Reddit user described as the "best Parmasan [sic] in the world imported from Italy." For cheese lovers willing to use a grater, however, the Specially Selected Parmigiano Reggiano Wedge Cheese could be a decent option. The product is a bit more expensive at $6.05 for 5.3 ounces, but that may be because it's a genuine DOP cheese. This means it's certified with the Denominazione di Origine Protetta (Protected Designation of Origin) label under European Union law. This strict labeling prevents imposters from claiming that a product is Italian when that's not actually the case.