Kraft Foods introduced individually wrapped processed cheese slices in 1950, revolutionizing the way cheese was consumed in America and around the world. The product became an iconic symbol of modern convenience food, and its ubiquity in American culture has been both celebrated and criticized by poets and cultural critics.

The rise of processed cheese has inspired poets to reflect on the tension between traditional artisan cheese and modern industrial food, with writers like Allen Ginsberg and Frank O'Hara using processed cheese as a symbol of American consumer culture. The iconic status of Kraft singles has made them a frequent subject of pop culture poetry and satire, and they have become a shorthand for the commodification of food in contemporary society.