I received the Parmesan cheese that was offered by the Kraft Intern (as mentioned in this post). I realize that others have reviewed this product, but what they've written bears repeating.

In short, this product pictured to the right should be avoided.

I know, I know. My bias against Kraft is clearly showing, and by all means should be taken into account when you readers out there mull over my words. This is why I am trying my darndest from saying phrases such as "tastes like sawdust" or "Parmesan made with skim milk? What were they thinking?"

As taste can be subjective, I'm going to refrain from voicing my personal feelings towards the quality of the product (*cough* tasteless *cough*), and instead appeal to the more ecological and environmental impact of this grated cheese product.

The selling point of Grate-it-fresh is that a consumer can grate their own cheese, straight out of the package. The idea is that it's the act of grating the cheese that affects the quality of the product. As Adam the Intern wrote in that e-mail, "It's kind of like bringing that authentic Italian restaurant feeling home to the family."

Yeah, I know. I don't quite understand that either. Call me crazy, but what makes an 'authentic Italian restaurant feeling' is high quality food products prepared via simple methods with great care. But hey, that's me.

The travesty of the product comes when you read the package. None of grater is re-usable. Kraft doesn't recommend washing the grater in the dishwasher, nor do they recommend re-using the grater after all the cheese within the product has been used.

What this means is, after a consumer is done with the Kraft product, they end up with...not one, not two, but five separate pieces of plastic (pictured below) which must go into the garbage.

Compare the picture above with the one below.

This piece of parchment paper is all that remains behind after consuming a piece of parmesan cheese from the local Italian Deli I frequent.

This dichotomy is a wonderful representation of what is wrong with the mega-food corporations. Here they have taken a simplistic piece of parmesan cheese, and complicated it by adding an extensive non-reusable, plastic package. Kraft is clearly trying to solve a problem that doesn't exist, and in doing so is adding to a well-established one.

Besides, an investment of fourteen bucks on Amazon can take care of your cheese grating needs for the next ten years.

My advice? If you see the product pictured below, walk on by.

Instead, maintain a tradition that has served us well for as long as anyone can remember.

Technorati Tags: Product Review, Kraft, Grate-it-Fresh