Researchers from the University of Michigan published a study in the U.S. National Library of Medicine that classifies cheese as an addictive food.

The study was published early 2015 but has recently gone viral because of people reacting to the idea of cheese as something addictive.

The study was attempting to name food items that have addictive effects, with pizza gaining the top.

The study backs up the result by giving credit to cheese toppings and dairy products as the reason for pizza addiction.   

The researchers say that food processing alters normal dairy into addictive cheese, and the more processed and fatty the food was, the more it was associated with addiction, according to The Inquisitr.

A chemical found in dairy products known as casein is said to be the cause of addiction to cheese.

"Casein breaks apart during digestion to release a whole host of opiates called casomorphins. The opiates then flood the brain with feelings of reward and addiction," said Neal Barnard of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, New York Daily News reports. 

In turn, Casomorphins act as dopamine receptors that trigger the addictive element of cheese, according Cameron Wells, a registered dietitian, Los Angeles Times reports.