Super source
Protein
22.7 g · 45% DV target
A creamy, bloomy-rind soft cheese from Normandy, Camembert offers a rich, earthy profile and a dense concentration of dairy proteins and minerals.
Camembert is a fermented soft cheese that provides a dense source of protein and calcium, though it is also high in saturated fat and sodium .711
While institutional guidelines often recommend low-fat dairy to manage cardiovascular risk, recent systematic reviews and institutional reports suggest that the saturated fat in the "cheese matrix" (the complex structure of proteins and minerals in cheese) may not affect blood cholesterol or heart health as negatively as the fats found in red meat .310
The fermentation process used to create Camembert's characteristic rind involves specific molds like Penicillium camemberti, which may alter how the body processes the cheese's fat and mineral content compared to non-fermented dairy .35
Early research suggests that specific compounds produced during the ripening of Camembert, such as oleamide, may have a relationship with cognitive health, though more large-scale human trials are needed to confirm these effects .4
Petal shape shows the nine FoodCompass domains, including nutrient density, processing, satiety, fats, and phytochemicals.
22.7 g · 45% DV target
17.0 g · 22% DV target
10.6 g · 53% DV target
Not a benefit — best kept low
171 μg · 19% DV target
0.28 μg · 1% DV target
0.49 mg · 38% DV target
Seasonality has not been estimated for this ingredient yet.
Keep in original wax paper to allow the cheese to breathe.
Dairy production has a higher carbon footprint than plant-based foods but lower than red meat.
The specific white mold used to create its rind, Penicillium camemberti, was only isolated and standardized in the early 20th century, prior to which Camembert rinds were often blue-grey or green-spotted.