In the fresh section, many rely on the “light” label to choose their cheese spread, thinking they are protecting their health and their figure. A magazine investigation 60 Million consumerspublished in a special issue in September-October 2025, shakes up this habit.
A famous natural spreadable cheese is considered more interesting in its classic version than in its light version.
Why classic St Môret is better than light
This cheese is the classic St Môret. The experts from 60 Millions de consommateurs present it as a smart choice for both health and the wallet, compared to the lighter St Môret.
The two recipes are very similar, in reality. But the classic product is already low in fat and around 30% cheaper than its light cousin. Which changes a lot of things when filling the shopping cart.
In their special issue, the specialists detail the composition of the two versions.
Dr Julien Rousseaux, nutritionist, summarizes the situation. “The ingredients are the same, but the amount of skimmed milk and milk proteins is undoubtedly greater in the low-fat version”. Low-fat cheese has 8% fat, compared to 17.8% for classic cheese, a difference considered modest in view of the portion consumed.
Classic St Môret compared to other cheeses: a rather light profile
For the consumer association, the calculation is quick.
“Low fat and around 30% cheaper, the classic wins hands down”. Between health, pleasure and budget, the non-light version ticks more boxes in real household life.
The figures published by 60 Million consumers also place this spreadable cheese in the large family of cheeses. A Camembert is around 22% fat, Roquefort climbs to 32%, and Comté reaches 34%. Faced with these values, the 17.8% of classic St Môret remains moderate, especially to garnish a toast or an everyday sandwich.
Choosing the right cheese spread at the supermarket
Another argument counts for experts: the quality of the list of ingredients. For classic St Môret, it remains short, which limits the risk of ending up with an ultra-processed product enriched with additives to compensate for the texture. Dr. Rousseaux recalls on this subject: “The brand offers light on something that is not very oily to begin with.“, which questions the real interest of the lighter version.
In practice, check it on the packaging, it should ideally contain milk, cream, ferments, salt, and few additions.
Also check the percentage of fat indicated on the packaging and the price per kilo. Better to choose a plain version like the classic St Môret and use it in reasonable quantities, with wholemeal bread and raw vegetables.