Cheese Theft Is On The Rise

Cheese theft is a growing problem, and it’s not just a quirky crime; it’s a serious threat to the global dairy industry. In a shocking case, dairy farmer Patrick Holden received an email from a buyer who claimed to represent a major French retailer, intending to purchase 22 tons of his Hafod cheddar. The order was placed through Neal’s Yard Dairy, a renowned cheese seller and wholesaler. On October 14th, the cheese was collected from Neal’s Yard’s warehouse by a courier, only for it to disappear mysteriously after being taken to a depot. It turned out the order was fraudulent, with the buyer being an imposter. This is just the latest in a string of cheese thefts that have raised alarms across the industry.

Food-related crimes, including smuggling, counterfeiting, and outright theft, cost the global food industry a staggering $30 to $50 billion annually, according to the World Trade Organization. Last year, during the holiday season, $62,000 worth of cheese was stolen from a trailer at a service station on the M5 near Worcester, UK. The problem isn’t new either—back in 1998, thieves broke into a family-run farm in Somerset and made off with 9 tons of cheddar.

Cheese theft isn’t limited to the UK. In 2016, criminals made off with $101,000 worth of Parmigiano Reggiano from a warehouse in northern Italy. This particular type of parmesan, known for its centuries-old production methods, had been matured for at least a year, making it a highly valuable target for thieves. At the time, the Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium estimated that approximately $7 million worth of cheese had been stolen in a two-year period.

The rising value of cheese is making it an even more attractive target for thieves. It’s no secret that food prices have skyrocketed in recent years. As cheese continues to climb in value, it’s only natural that thefts are on the rise.

However, the industry is fighting back. Italy’s Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium has introduced tracking chips, no larger than a grain of rice, embedded in the hard rind of each cheese. These chips contain a unique digital ID that helps authenticate the cheese and makes it easier to identify counterfeit products. While these measures have helped reduce thefts, it’s clear that cheese theft is a growing problem that the industry must continue to tackle as prices rise and demand increases.