Cheese lovers looking to whip up a delicious Tartiflette dish this winter may need to explore new cheese options, as the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has implemented a ban on certain European cheeses made with raw milk.
The ban specifically affects raw milk cheeses produced after May 23 in countries like Italy, France, and Switzerland due to a recent outbreak of lumpy skin disease in European cattle herds.
According to Jennifer Ronholm, an associate professor at McGill University specializing in agricultural microbiology, the disease not only affects cows’ skin but can also lead to various health issues and decreased productivity in dairy cows.
Gilles Jourdenais, the owner of Fromagerie Atwater, lamented the unavailability of classic cheeses like Reblochon, Vacherin Mont-d’or, and Brie de Meaux but highlighted the presence of suitable substitutes both locally and from other European countries.
While the Canadian Food Inspection Agency assured that the lumpy skin disease outbreak is being closely monitored in Europe and import restrictions will be adjusted accordingly, concerns remain about the potential impacts on the Canadian beef and dairy industry.
Jourdenais expressed worries about the long-term effects of the ban, especially on aged cheeses like Reggiano, which typically mature for 20 to 36 months.
Despite the disappointment among raw cheese enthusiasts, Ronholm emphasized the temporary nature of the ban until the disease is brought under control, citing past successful control efforts in other regions like Israel in 1989.
