section_path: Production
section_name: Production
paragraph_text: Production
  
  In 2021, world production of cheese from whole cow milk was 22.2 million tonnes, with the United States accounting for 28% of the total, followed by Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands as secondary producers (table).
  
  As of 2021, the carbon footprint of a kilogram of cheese ranged from 6 to 12 kg of CO eq, depending on the amount of milk used; accordingly, it is generally lower than beef or lamb, but higher than other foods.