Is Fontina Cheese Acidic or Alkaline?
Fontina cheese (raw) is strongly acid-forming: Positive PRAL: acid-forming after digestion.
Classification
Fontina is a semi-hard cheese from the Aosta Valley with little water and lots of concentrated milk protein, so it sits well in the acid-forming range at +17.4. The calcium in the cheese can't keep up with the protein and phosphorus. Fondue with bread adds up to a hefty acid load. You soften it best by dipping vegetables and potatoes instead of just bread.
In the Cheese category, fontina cheese (raw) ranks #25 of 37, sorted from alkaline to acid-forming. More alkaline options include Cotija cheese (+17.3), Tilsit cheese (+17.3), Cheddar cheese (+16.9). More acid-forming are Raclette cheese (+17.4), Gouda (young) (+17.5), Paneer cheese (+17.9).
Acidic or alkaline: PRAL, not pH
On this site, acidic and alkaline refer to the PRAL (potential renal acid load). It estimates what a food leaves behind once it has been digested: a positive value is acid-forming, a negative value is alkalizing. That is different from the pH of the food itself: a lemon tastes sour, yet its PRAL is −4.0, so it is alkalizing. Your diet does not change your blood pH. It does change how much acid your kidneys have to deal with.
What balances fontina cheese
A slice (30 g) of fontina cheese adds +5.2 to your daily balance. These three bring it back; the grams shown offset exactly this serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is fontina cheese acidic?
It depends on what you mean by acidic. The pH describes the food itself, for example how sour it tastes. The PRAL describes what it leaves behind after digestion: Fontina cheese (raw) has a PRAL of +17.4 per 100 g, so it counts as strongly acid-forming in your daily acid-base balance.
How much lamb's lettuce offsets a slice (30 g) of fontina cheese?
A slice (30 g) of fontina cheese adds +5.2 to your daily balance. Lamb's lettuce (fresh) has −8.3 per 100 g, so about 60 g of lamb's lettuce offset this serving.
Do I have to avoid fontina cheese on an alkaline diet?
No. What counts is the balance of the whole day, not a single food. Fontina cheese is strongly acid-forming; with enough vegetables, potatoes and fruit on the same plate, the meal stays balanced.
Fontina Cheese logged, balance checked.
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Compare all Cheese: Cheese table. Common questions are answered in Acidic or Alkaline?, and the PRAL calculator adds up a whole meal.
Source: Basentracker food database (PRAL according to Remer & Manz, calculated from protein, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and calcium per 100 g). This information does not replace medical advice.