Roquefort Nutrition Benefits and Facts

Nutritional summary

Roquefort is a high-sodium food, which is a key consideration for individuals monitoring salt intake for cardiovascular health .
While dietary guidelines generally recommend limiting full-fat cheese to manage saturated fat intake, some research suggests that specific nutrients in cheese may have a neutral or even protective effect on heart health and type 2 diabetes risk .
The distinct blue veins in Roquefort are created by the mold *Penicillium roqueforti*, which drives the ripening process and results in a sharper taste and semi-soft consistency as the cheese ages .
Early research indicates that blue-veined cheeses like Roquefort contain andrastins, which are compounds that may inhibit farnesyltransferase (an enzyme involved in cholesterol synthesis) .

Interesting fact

Legend has it that Roquefort was discovered when a young shepherd abandoned his bread and ewe's milk cheese in a cave to pursue a girl, returning months later to find the cheese transformed by the cave's natural molds.

Standout nutrients

EPIC

SOURCE

Chloride

EPIC

SOURCE

Calcium

EPIC

SOURCE

Sodium

EPIC

SOURCE

Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)

359

kcal per 100g

Protein19.9g

Fat31.3g

Carbs0.57g

Sugar0.21g

Fat breakdown

Polyunsat0.98g

Monounsat7.41g

Saturated20.8g

Seasonality

Not available

Diet

VegetarianPescatarianGluten FreeKeto

Sustainability

Heavier footprint

As a sheep's milk product, it has a significant carbon footprint due to methane emissions and land use requirements.

Confidencemedium

Storage

Refrigerate

2–4 weeks

Wrap in foil or wax paper to maintain moisture and prevent mold spread to other foods.

Flavour

Data & Sources

Harmonized from 4 validated sources

French Food Database

1 contributing source food

Swiss Food Database

1 contributing source food

McCance & Widdowson

1 contributing source food

USDA

USDA FoodData Central

1 contributing source food

Claim citations

Food sources of saturated fat and cardiovascular disease: A systematic review

[1]nesr.usda.gov

Cheese and Butter as a Source of Health-Promoting Fatty Acids in the Human Diet - PMC

[8]pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Cheese: mere indulgence or part of a healthy diet? - PMC

[10]pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Cheese - The Nutrition Source

[11]nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu

Milk, Dairy Products, and Their Functional Effects in Humans - PMC

[12]pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Coverage

Nutrients

FoodCompass

30.5

Version

Similar flavours

Explore flavour space →