Reported cheese ban has not curdled opinion in China

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Expats and Western media have kicked up a stink, but claims that the Chinese government has banned soft cheese imports seem to have been digested with far less trouble by locals in China.

The news, not yet officially confirmed, has been widely reported by English-language media this week though the ban supposedly started in July.

It is said to affect various mold-ripened cheeses including European favorites Camembert, Brie and Roquefort.

The letter from Sinodis to its audience.

Western food distributor Sinodis sent a letter to its customers saying it had been informed by Chinese authorities that certain types of cheese are temporarily banned in China because of the mold they contain.

"Official reason" that China bans off soft European cheeses explained by Cheese Republic on its WeChat post.

Online cheese seller Cheese Republic also said in a WeChat post on September 7 that China is banning cheese deemed to have too much bacteria.

The "stop selling cheese" announcement from Cheese Republic on its WeChat post.

Sinodis stopped importing a list of cheeses on August 23 and Cheese Republic said it will stop selling these cheeses next week.

Lovers of foreign cheese are sure to be miffed, but it should be made clear that this is a product not in high demand in China. Cheese as a whole accounted for less than four percent of all dairy products imported into the country last year, according to a market report HighGround Dairy 2016.

Photo via shanghaiist.com

That explains why the ban has received barely any coverage in Chinese-language media.

Previously, China banned British cheese in 2014 after discovering faults with the hygiene standards of an unnamed diary, but it later lifted the prohibition. A similar ban was also implemented on Italian mozzarella cheese in 2008 when the government believed some products contained carcinogens.

Photo via shanghaiist.com

Given the lack of official confirmation, it is unclear if China has come up with new standards governing cheese.

Even if it has, many have made light of the news. "This is cheese only," read one comment under Cheese Republic’s WeChat post.

Sniffing disappointment, foodies may do well to remember the saying, life is hard but cheese is soft.