Cream substitutes are described comprising: a cheese curd, a water source, and a combination of gums that provide the cream substitute the texture of a thick cream, and/or stability against oil separation. The gums may be locust bean gum and xanthan gum. The amount of cheese curd in the composition is typically not more than about 55% by weight of the total ingredients. There is also provided a process for the manufacture of a cream substitute, comprising: combining a cheese curd, a water source, and hydrated gums, to form a mixture, in which the amount of cheese curd is not more than about 55% by weight of the total ingredients, homogenising the mixture, and heating the mixture at a temperature and for a time sufficient to pasteurise the mixture to form a cream substitute.
