Product type Cheese curl Markets Oceania | Owner Snack Brands Australia | |
Introduced 1971; 46 years ago (1971) Previous owners Malaysia:
Danone
Kraft Foods Registered as a trademark in Snack Brands Australia (Australia)
Cheezels
Mondelēz International (Malaysia)
Cheezels | ||
Cheezels are a type of ring-like, corn-based, cheese-flavoured Australian snack food distributed by Snack Brands Australia (which, in turn is owned by The Real McCoy Snackfood Company). In Malaysia, Cheezels are originally produced by Danone and later, Kraft Foods, and is currently owned by Mondelēz International, together with Twisties. In New Zealand, Cheezels are owned by Bluebird Foods Ltd and Pepsico subsidiaries.
Contents
Made from corn and rice, they are a crisp puffy ring with a strong, savoury cheddar cheese flavour and aroma. They are similar in texture to a cheese puff, or the American Cheetos.
History
According to any modern packet of Cheezels, the snack entered the market in 1971. Prior to 2014, Cheezels were gluten free by ingredient. The recipe has now been changed to include gluten containing cereals, disappointing Coeliac disease sufferers nationwide.
Flavours
Usually, Cheezels are made from corn and rice and many kinds of powdered cheeses. Other flavours of the snack have been produced by Snack Brands Australia, such as:
International variants
In Italy, Cheezels are known under the name 'Yonkers', also owned by Mondelēz International. The snack has no slogan, and features a mascot named 'Yonky', after the snack. However, Yonky's catchphrase is 'Yonk!' which could be considered the slogan. The snack is much less cylindrical than its Australian predecessor, shaped more like the Australian Burger Ring. Its puffiness also rivals that of the latter, making them easier to chew through than the characteristic hard shell found on Cheezels. For seasoning, Yonkers uses a less tangy, finer cheese powder than that of Cheezels, but with a relatively similar aftertaste. Yonkers' aroma is more pungent, and relies on the same child-friendly gimmick of Cheezels by popularising using them as rings to wear on your fingers.