New York-style Cheesecake - Cream Cheese

Cream cheese is a soft, mild-tasting fresh cheese made from milk and cream. It is typically made by combining milk and cream, pasteurizing the mixture, adding a starter culture and coagulant, and then draining off the whey. The resulting curd is then processed to achieve its characteristic smooth and spreadable texture.

Manufacturers add cream cheese for its rich flavor, creamy texture, and binding properties. It is a key ingredient in cheesecakes, dips, frostings, and spreads. It also adds moisture and richness to baked goods like brownies and cookies.

Cream cheese is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the FDA for use in food. It is a source of saturated fat and calories. Regulatory bodies like JECFA have evaluated similar dairy products, but specific evaluations for cream cheese as an isolated ingredient are less common. At typical consumption levels found in foods, it does not pose a health risk for most people.