Raw Milk Cheeses

Due primarily to the potential significant food poisoning issues with Listeria species in raw milk cheeses, Australian Cheesemakers are not permitted, according to the Food Standards Code, to make cheese from raw milk. All cheese in this country must be made from pastuerised milk.

However, cheesemakers and cheese specialists believe that cheese made with raw milk has more flavor and intensity. Specific raw milk cheeses manufactured overseas can be imported into Australia.

A group called Slow Food Australia has launched a public campaign to allow local cheesemakers to use raw milk to make cheese. The slow food movement is about preparing and consuming food slowly to allow the flavours to develop and experience the full depth of foods.

Slow Food founder Carlo Petrini said “We must allow Australian cheesemakers to make their cheese with raw milk. When you pasteurise milk you deprive it of its soul. There is no difference anymore. Instead, what can you taste with raw milk? You can taste the breed, the grass that the animal ate, if it comes from the mountains, hills or valleys, you can taste the expertise of the cheesemaker, and so it becomes a pleasure. So difference becomes the real strength. And whenever I say these things here people say, ‘Well it’s the law, you know. And we must safeguard people’s health’. Well, the law doesn’t defend people’s health. It just defends industry.”

“That’s not fair for Australian producers. With this issue Slow Food has been able to win in the United States. Now, with 30,000 members in the United States, Slow Food has managed to change a stupid law. And if we can win in the United States we can also win in Australia. From that campaign in the United States we now have cheesemakers in Montana, in California, and in Massachusetts. All over the United States we have a growing army of cheesemakers, and the cheese is excellent. This is the great force of diversity” said Mr Petrini.

Raw milk cheeses are another interesting topic of debate and for more information, go to www. slowfoodaustralia.com.au/projects/australia/raw-milk-cheese and www.foodstandards.gov.au