Review: Bega Stringers Original Cheese Sticks 160g

Stringers are one of the most popular lunchbox picks in the fridge aisle. The ingredient list is short, the protein and calcium are solid, and most toddlers love peeling them. The one number to keep an eye on is salt.

What's in it?

Milk, salt, enzyme (non-animal rennet) and culture (milk). That's it. No preservatives, colours or flavours, and it's made in Australia. The non-animal rennet makes it suitable for vegetarian families.

Allergens

Contains cow's milk. No other ASCIA major allergens are listed and there's no may-contain statement on the package. If your little one hasn't had dairy yet, offer it at home first rather than in the lunchbox.

Age on pack

No age is stated on the pack. There's no specific kids' claim, it's just cheese in a handy size. We would recommend peeling them or slicing into quarters to avoid the whole round shape for little ones under 2.

Texture

Stringers are a firm, rubbery cheese, and a whole stick can be a lot for a little mouth to manage. The good news is they peel into thin strings, which is a much safer shape for young toddlers. For under-twos, peel it into strings or cut it lengthways into thin fingers rather than handing over the whole stick. Always sit them down to eat and stay close by, because every little one chews differently.

Cost

About $7.50 for 8 sticks (160g) at Coles when we checked in September 2026, which works out to $4.69 per 100g or about 94c a stick. A block of tasty cheese is cheaper per 100g, so if budget matters, cutting your own cheese fingers does the same job.

Nutrition info

Protein and calcium are where this shines, with one stick giving 130mg of calcium. Sodium at 707mg per 100g is well over our 400mg line, but that's normal for cheese, and a single 20g stick carries 141mg. Treat it like any cheese: one stick is plenty, alongside fresh foods that bring very little salt.