US cheese group Sargento has launched a range of cheese-based snacks containing nuts and dried fruit in the US.

Sargento said the Balanced Breaks line was its first set of snacks "beyond cheese". There are four products in the range including a variety containing cheddar cheese, sea-salted almonds and dried cranberries.

"Today's health-conscious consumers are looking for portable snacks that balance nutrition and great taste," Chris McCarthy, director of marketing for Sargento's consumer products division, said.

The products come in a package of three 1.5-ounce snacks for a suggested retail price of US$3.69.