The technology disclosed in this specification pertains to imitations cheese comprising a grade 2 gum Arabic in an amount of from about 0.1% to about 1.0% and having a molecular weight of greater than about 800 kDa. In some embodiments the imitation cheese are low protein imitation cheeses having protein content of less than about 20%. It has been observed that the disclosed cheeses have an improved melt-stretch compared to imitation cheeses made with other hydrocolloids. It has further been observed low protein imitation cheeses comprising a grade 2 gum Arabic have a melt-stretch more like that of a full protein imitation cheese compared to the melt-stretch of imitation cheeses made with other hydrocolloids.