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submitted 22 hours ago* (last edited 22 hours ago) by gandalf_der_13te@feddit.org to c/til@lemmy.world

it was produced in the US as a part of food subsidy programs, also for disaster relief etc.

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[-] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 5 points 11 hours ago

Also part of an experimental us army program on increasing shelf life of perishable foods,

[-] gandalf_der_13te@feddit.org 2 points 11 hours ago* (last edited 11 hours ago)

yeah i suspected it was actually an army project to prepare for the escalation of the cold war. that's why it was released after 1980 ... it was considered that it wasn't necessary anymore (to keep it in stockpile).

[-] Uranus_Hz@lemmy.zip 7 points 15 hours ago

Free velveeta for all

[-] IWW4@lemmy.zip 49 points 22 hours ago

Yep, I ate it a lot growing up. I used to really like it.

[-] WatermelonPaloma@lemmy.world 1 points 11 hours ago

Same! I loved it when I was young.

[-] ChicoSuave@lemmy.world 22 points 21 hours ago

Made the best grilled cheese sandwiches

[-] gdog05@lemmy.world 16 points 22 hours ago

The best part of the box of goods. That and honey.

[-] billwashere@lemmy.world 12 points 19 hours ago

Somehow my dad would get this from work. I guess people would trade or sell it. But that shit was good.

[-] SubArcticTundra@lemmy.ml 5 points 18 hours ago* (last edited 18 hours ago)

Just one more argument for socialism /s

[-] billwashere@lemmy.world 7 points 17 hours ago

If I recall correctly I’m pretty sure it was due to the government subsidies for the dairy industries to keep the prices up.

[-] acockworkorange@mander.xyz 2 points 5 hours ago

Initially to stabilize the market. What was happening is the price of milk would tank and a lot of farmers turned their livestock into meat and left the business, which then resulted in a production shortfall, and skyrocketing prices, and the cycle began anew. So they came up with a plan to buy excess milk when prices were low, turn that into a higher value, longer lasting commodity to sell later. But once you introduce that by the government instead of private companies, removing it becomes a political maneuver. So it could only go up, and prices were kept artificially high.

[-] RebekahWSD@lemmy.world 12 points 19 hours ago

My grandmother loved the government cheese. They also traded shoe rations for other rations because her father was an oil derrick man so got more shoe rations but didn't really need them (he was a higher up so not usually working the derrick himself except during inspection).

[-] acockworkorange@mander.xyz 1 points 5 hours ago* (last edited 5 hours ago)

Rations? Smells like communism. McCarthy, get 'em boy!

[-] DarrinBrunner@lemmy.world 20 points 22 hours ago

We had it when I was a kid. This, and powdered milk that we mixed with real milk. I remember doing the mixing when we got home from grocery shopping.

(I know powdered milk is "real" milk. But... is it?)

[-] Dookieman12@piefed.social 14 points 20 hours ago

That depends on your point of view.

Powdered milk is milk with the water removed. For that reason, many people would probably agree with the idea that it's "real" milk.

On the other hand, brandy is wine that's had the water removed, but I think you'll have a hard time finding anyone who will agree with the idea that brandy is wine.

[-] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 1 points 11 hours ago

But how do you feel about buckle berry ferry

[-] idiomaddict@lemmy.world 4 points 18 hours ago

many people would probably agree with the idea that it's "real" milk

I agree, but I also think almost everyone would know which you wanted if you asked them for the “real milk”

[-] dogslayeggs@lemmy.world 22 points 22 hours ago

Yeah, there was a popular joke about it from In Living Color.

[-] adarza@lemmy.ca 16 points 21 hours ago

the actual sliced american cheese was awesome. better than deli american or the american cheese used by fast food and other restaurants on cheeseburgers.

the loafs of "cheese food" were more like an american cheese 'flavored' velveeta, but not as good (taste or to cook with). but it still worked for mac & cheese, grilled cheese, cheese dips, and in hotdishes and the like.

[-] RamRabbit@lemmy.world 12 points 22 hours ago

The Fat Electrician did a great video on this a few years ago, if you want a listen.

[-] zuckey78@sh.itjust.works 2 points 13 hours ago

Thank you for that link random internet person. Subscribed.

[-] MrEff@lemmy.world 4 points 21 hours ago

Such a good video. Good channel too. I always send that one to people.

[-] Dookieman12@piefed.social 3 points 20 hours ago* (last edited 20 hours ago)

I thought so too until I heard him unironically complain about something he thought was "woke". I lost all respect as soon as I realized his beliefs are aligned with the traitors'.

[-] brem@lemmy.world 8 points 22 hours ago

A lot of Government Cheese is stored in caves.

So it's technically fromunda cheese.

[-] Lexam@lemmy.world 6 points 21 hours ago

I miss government cheese. It was so good.

[-] thenextguy@sh.itjust.works 2 points 16 hours ago

“Andrew Jackson, in the main foyer of his Whitehouse, had a big block of cheese…”

https://youtu.be/t-bzcExJR4I

[-] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 1 points 11 hours ago

Okay he did one thing right

[-] SeeMarkFly@lemmy.ml 5 points 21 hours ago

Disaster relief???

My mom made Mac&Cheese with that cheese and powered milk and leftover bread heels and topped it with the crumbs from the bag of potato chips.

I still can't eat Mac and Cheese in ANY form to this very day.

It WAS the disaster!

[-] SubArcticTundra@lemmy.ml 2 points 18 hours ago

Something something lucky 10,000

[-] cattywampas@lemmy.world 4 points 22 hours ago

My favorite jam band

[-] bobbyfiend@retrolemmy.com 2 points 20 hours ago

"I will not eat the green eggs and government cheese..."

[-] MedicPigBabySaver@lemmy.world 2 points 22 hours ago

I highly recommend the Apple TV series: Government Cheese.

Quirky, interesting, fun.

this post was submitted on 03 Aug 2026
164 points (98.8% liked)

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