The most popular Babybel cheese is the red type, it contains Edam cheese which is creamy and child-friendly.
There are more cheese types available, depending on the paraffin wax enclosure and the color of the wrapper.
Here are some examples and tips.
What Type of Cheese is in a Babybel? Know These Wrapper/Wax Skin Colors
Be aware that different varieties of Babybel are sold in France, other countries in Europe, and the U.S., so availability will vary depending on where you are., Canada and Australia.
Babybel in the United States and Canada
- Red – Original / Edam
- Green – Mozzarella Style
- Blue – Light, with 50% less fat than the original mini red Babybel
- Black – White Cheddar (Cheddar in Canada)
- Orange – Gouda
- Purple – Sharp Original
- Yellow – Swiss Taste (Only available in Canada)
- Light Green – Organic (Canada)
Babybel in France
- Red – Original / Edam
- Green – Goat Cheese (chèvre)
- Red and green with a “bio” label on it – Edam made with organic milk
Babybel in Other Countries in Europe
- Red – Original / Edam
- Blue – Light, with 50% less fat than the original mini red Babybel
- Black – Enriched with 5g of protein per 20g mini Babybel
- Purple – Cheddar
- Yellow – Emmental
- Green with “Bio” – Organic
Babybel in Australia
- Red – Original / Edam
- Orange – Cheddar
- Blue – Light, with 38% less fat than mini red Babybel
Why Are Babybels Wrapped in Wax?
Every Babybel is covered in red paraffin wax, which shields the cheese from airborne bacteria, mold growth, and drying as it ages. On hard and semi-hard cheeses that only require a few months to age, a coating of food-grade wax is frequently applied.
It’s not just Babybel that has this red coating. You can also find it on cheeses like Dutch Edam, which is typically done to preserve cheeses for export or for travelers who want to bring them home.
How Do They Put the Wax on Babybel Cheese?
The Bel Group (Le Groupe Bel) has a patented machine that is used by Babybel factories to quickly wrap each cheese in red wax and tabs.
However, artisanal cheesemakers who perform this procedure manually melt the cheese wax and brush it onto dried and chilled cheese. A pot of melted wax is also used to dip the cheese on both sides.
Can You Eat the Wax on a Babybel?
You shouldn’t eat it, that’s for sure. Before eating the cheese, remove the red wax by pulling the tab; it is there to keep the cheese moist.
Don’t worry if you accidentally ate some of it! The red paraffin-based wax coating is food-grade and won’t harm you; perhaps only your taste buds.
Does Babybel Cheese Melt?
Babybel does melt well, but it’s not overly runny. It can be used for cordon bleu, fondue, cheese sticks, burgers, sandwiches, and more.
How Are You Supposed to Eat Babybel Cheese?
Babybel can be consumed in a variety of ways; just make sure to remove the plastic wrapper and pull the tab to release the cheese from its wax casing.
When that happens, you can eat it as a snack, fry it, melt it for burgers and dips, grate it over pasta or tacos, and do anything else you can do with regular hard or semi-hard cheese.
Make sure to cut it into small, bite-sized pieces if you’re giving it to children under 4 as a snack.
Babybel Cheese Ingredients
The main ingredients of Babybel are:
- Pasteurized milk
- Salt
- Bacterial culture
- Coagulant
Babybel Cheese Nutrition
A piece of Mini Babybel Original (red, made in France) contains:
- Energy: 65 calories
- Fat: 5.1 g
- Saturated fat: 3.4 g
- Protein: 4.8 g
- Salt: 0.15 g
- Calcium: 150 mg
Be aware that the nutritional information per serving for Babybels produced in other nations may vary and may also depend on the cheese flavor.
Is Babybel Cheese Healthy?
Moderation with cheese is essential as always. The American Heart Association in the US states that a serving of cheese is 1.5 oz (42.5 g) and suggests consuming up to three servings per day. Up to 1.4 oz (40 g) of cheese per day is the recommended serving in France. Be aware that two mini Babybels equal 1.4 oz, or 40 g.
Different health organizations and countries will have various serving suggestions, so it’s best to consider your medical history and current condition and find the right type of cheese for you based on these categories:
- Lower in calories
- Lower in fat
- Lower in sodium
Which category does Babybel fit into? Unless you choose the Light variety (blue), it might not be the best choice if you’re looking for one low in fat (about 5 g per mini Babybel). The sodium content is not particularly low (about 150 mg per mini Babybel).
There are 60–70 calories in each Babybel. This can still fit in the low-calorie category as long as you watch out how much you eat and what you also eat with it (bread, chips, etc.).
On the plus side, Babybel is guaranteed to be high in calcium and low in sugar. Because Babybel contains 98 percent milk and doesn’t have any artificial coloring, flavors, or preservatives, people who are trying to avoid highly processed foods don’t need to worry about eating it.
Final Thoughts
Babybel is a suitable snack to eat but you should eat it in moderation. Different areas have different Babybel cheese, they can be differed by their paraffin wax enclosure and the color of the wrapper.
Related Reading
5 Best Low-Sodium Cheeses You Can’t Miss
5 Cheeses High Cholesterol People Can Have
When Can You Introduce Cheese to Your Baby
FAQs
What Type of Cheese Is Original Babybel?
Babybel, a French version of Dutch Edam cheese, has been sold internationally by ‘The Bel Group, France’ since 1952. In 1977, the company introduced Babybel’s smaller version, ‘Mini Babybel’, a delightful snack packed with calcium and ready to eat anytime and anywhere.
Is Babybel Made of Mozzarella?
Rich, creamy Mozzarella Style is on a mission to make your snack time delicious. This 100% real cheese snack has no artificial growth hormones*, artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.
