FDA moves to ban most artisan cheeses (health, european, bread)

[fibonacci]

FDA threatens industry on wood boards; artisan cheese world melts down in 'disbelief' - Washington Times


What kind of lunacy is this? Imagine in the future being left with only cheesewhiz or velveeta garbage as your only choices of "cheese" to consume or cook with. Let's ban a process we've been doing for hundreds and hundreds of years.

[AnonChick]

The concern is about the sanitation (or lack thereof) of the wooden boards that are used in the aging process. If you read down near the end of the article, you finally get to the part where they actually had to shut down one cheesemaker when listeria was found in their cheeses, which use wooden boards to age them.

So - naturally, it stands to reason that they would at -least- be concerned about the sanitation of the surfaces upon which cheese is aged. Wood can't be cleaned the same way non-porous surfaces can. I personally think it's silly to have -that- much concern over using wooden boards, but I kind of get where they're coming from.

No one is threatening the industry though, that's just sensationalist journalism. The FDA is looking at the situation to see if it merits further study. They'll probably come to the conclusion that regulators just need to be reminded that even wooden surfaces have to be appropriately sanitized, and checked for compliance with existing sanitation laws, and that's that.

I have a feeling very little will come of this - not because of protests, but rather because the FDA will realize it isn't that big of an issue in the first place.

[jlawrence01]

Originally Posted by AnonChick

The concern is about the sanitation (or lack thereof) of the wooden boards that are used in the aging process. If you read down near the end of the article, you finally get to the part where they actually had to shut down one cheesemaker when listeria was found in their cheeses, which use wooden boards to age them.

Wood has been removed from most commercial kitchens for about 25 years as wood harbors potentially hazardous bacteria.

The artisanal cheese producers I have visited are NOT using wood.

[nmnita]

I hope nothing comes of this: Yes, I can understand the concerns for our health, but I am so tired of the government interfering in everything we do...I have no problems with warning us of dangers, whatever they may be, but please don't tell us what we can and can do...!!!! If there is one single possibility something might cause us a danger the government wants it stopped.

[North Beach Person]

I imagine that won't have an impact. The state has been going after, and shutting down, lemonade stands, Amish markets, roadside stands, etc. for several years now. The wooden curing boards were gone a long time ago.

[Ohiogirl81]

Wow, what a sensational thread title, blown up from a sensational headline, neither of which has nothing to do with the story contained within.

[rainroosty]

^^^ Yep....and now I wish I had a big block of artisan cheese (that just means....um....cheese) and a big azz cola!

[elnina]

"Health Canada does not currently have any regulations prohibiting aging and ripening cheese on wood, so apparently if we want to eat most American or European artisan cheeses, we'll need to drive across the border to do so."

Does that mean that they can appropriately clean their boards, and we can't?

More here:
Cheese Underground: Game Changer: FDA Rules No Wooden Boards in Cheese Aging

[freepelican]

I have lost all respect or the FDA... I don't trust them AT ALL... they approve GMOs without testing... they push through high fructose corn syrup without adequate testing... they publish misleading reports about raw milk where the cherry pick data and conveniently leave out even their own data... they allow azodicarbonamide, a chemical used to produce yoga mats and rubber soles for shoes, to be added to bread, etc, etc... now this... we need a complete overhaul of the FDA and we need to get the ex Monsanto executives/lobbyists/lawyers out of key positions there.

[Ohiogirl81]

Originally Posted by freepelican

I have lost all respect or the FDA... I don't trust them AT ALL

Read the article again (if you read it at all):

The FDA is not banning anything; it merely is investigating the possible contribution of wooden aging blocks to listeria outbreaks. The title of this thread is inflammatory.