What is Government Cheese?

"Government Cheese" is a slang term for cheddar cheese distributed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as part of various government food assistance programs, primarily during the 1970s and 1980s.

Background:

* The USDA, in an effort to manage surplus agricultural products, would purchase excess cheese from dairy farmers and distribute it to low-income families through programs like the Food Stamp Program and the Commodity Supplemental Food Program.

* The cheese was often of lower quality and had a distinctive flavor, which led to the nickname "Government Cheese."

* It was typically packaged in 5-pound blocks and had a noticeable orange color due to the added food coloring.

Legacy and Perception:

* While the term "Government Cheese" is now largely a nostalgic reference to a bygone era, it carries a negative connotation of poor quality and cheapness.

* The practice of distributing cheese as food assistance has largely been discontinued, replaced by more diverse and nutritious food options.

* However, the term "Government Cheese" remains ingrained in popular culture, often used humorously or ironically to denote something of questionable quality or value.

Key Points:

* Government Cheese was cheddar cheese distributed by the USDA as food assistance.

* It was often of lower quality and had a distinctive flavor.

* The term is now mostly used in a nostalgic or humorous context.

It's important to note that the term "Government Cheese" is not an official designation and doesn't necessarily reflect the quality of cheese distributed by the USDA in modern food assistance programs.