Who invented spray cheese in a can?

Nabisco invented spray cheese in a can. The company introduced its canned cheese spread as Snack Mate in 1965, creating the format later known generically as spray cheese, squirt cheese, or cheese in a can.

Snack Mate was designed to be dispensed directly onto crackers and other snacks. Its pressurized container let consumers produce a soft ribbon of cheese without a knife, plate, or refrigeration during serving. The product was manufactured in Wrightstown, Wisconsin, and became an early example of convenience-focused packaged food engineering.

Nabisco’s product was not exactly the same as a modern aerosol whipped topping. It used a valve and nozzle to push a processed cheese spread from the can, making the packaging part of the eating experience. The cheese was formulated to remain spreadable and shelf-stable while sealed.

People sometimes credit Kraft because Kraft is strongly associated with processed cheese products, but Nabisco introduced the original canned cheese spread under the Snack Mate name. Easy Cheese, the brand many people recognize today, was first manufactured by Nabisco and is the direct successor commonly associated with this invention.