GIFSQ Tools · Module 07 — Dairy, Milk, Cheese & Fermented Products · Tool 131 of 500
Work out the moisture in the non-fat solids (MNFS) of a cheese from its moisture and fat, plus the fat in dry matter.
Try sample values — fills the form with the worked example below.
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Moisture in non-fat solids (%)
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Fat in dry matter (%)
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Moisture (%)
Equation: Moisture in non-fat solids (%) = moisture (%) ÷ (100 − fat (%)) × 100. Fat in dry matter (%) = fat (%) ÷ (100 − moisture (%)) × 100.
Method: MNFS from cheese moisture (ISO 5534, IDF 4, total solids) and fat (ISO 1735, IDF 5). MNFS is the legal and grading measure for most hard and semi-hard cheeses.
Assumptions: moisture and fat are measured on the same cheese sample; the cheese is uniform through the block.
Limitations: MNFS does not describe texture or flavour on its own — pH, salt and ripening matter too; the verdict band is for Cheddar-type cheese, not for soft or fresh cheese.
Rounding: percentages to 2 decimal places; intermediates unrounded.
This is a calculation aid, not a laboratory report — confirm against your accredited method before citing a value.
Method: MNFS from cheese moisture (ISO 5534, IDF 4, total solids) and fat (ISO 1735, IDF 5). MNFS is the legal and grading measure for most hard and semi-hard cheeses.
Assumptions: moisture and fat are measured on the same cheese sample; the cheese is uniform through the block.
Limitations: MNFS does not describe texture or flavour on its own — pH, salt and ripening matter too; the verdict band is for Cheddar-type cheese, not for soft or fresh cheese.
Rounding: percentages to 2 decimal places; intermediates unrounded.
This is a calculation aid, not a laboratory report — confirm against your accredited method before citing a value.
Worked example: Moisture 37%, fat 33%. MNFS = 37 ÷ (100 − 33) × 100 = 55.22%; fat in dry matter = 33 ÷ (100 − 37) × 100 = 52.38%.
Enter values above to see results.
Cheddar-type cheese is typically about 52–56% MNFS; the band differs by variety, so check your own specification. Tool 131 of 500 — GIFSQ
