Cheese Anyone

CHEESE ANYONE? (Do you like eating cheese? Well this is something that I got while I was looking into some sites since I am a cheese lover myself. It’s about a forbidden cheese in Sardinia, Italy. I guess after reading this, you will be very picky with what you will be eating next. Read on to know more about it!) Casu marzu (also called casu modde or formaggio marcio) is a cheese found in Sardinia, Italy, notable for being riddled with live insect larvae. Casu marzu is Sardinian for "rotten cheese." It goes beyond typical fermentation to a stage near decomposition, brought about by the digestive action of the larvae of the cheese fly, Piophila casei. These larvae are deliberately introduced to the cheese, promoting an advanced level of fermentation and breaking down the cheese's fats. The texture of the cheese becomes very soft, with some liquid (called "lagrima") seeping out. The larvae themselves appear as transparent, white worms, about 8 mm (1/3 inch) long. When disturbed, the larvae can jump for distances up to 15 cm (6 inches), prompting recommendations of eye protection for those eating the cheese. Some people clear the larvae from the cheese before consuming; others do not. What is a Piophila casei? They are usually called CHEESE FLIES...The fly's larva infests cured meats, smoked fish, cheeses, and decaying animals. The larva is about eight mm (1/3 inch) long and is sometimes called the cheese skipper for its leaping ability. When disturbed, this tiny maggot can hop up to 15 cm (six inches) into the air. Adults are also known as "bacon flies" and their larvae as "bacon skippers", "ham skippers", "cheese maggots", and "cheese hoppers". The danger of eating this so called “FORBIDDEN CHEESE”: * Risk of enteric myiasis or also called as intestinal larval infection. Piophila casei larvae can pass through the stomach alive (human stomach acids do not usually kill them) and take up residency for some period of time in the intestines, where they can cause serious lesions as they attempt to bore through the intestinal walls. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, pain in the abdomen, and bloody diarrhea. In present times…Because of these health threats, or simply because it is considered a contaminated product, casu marzu cheese cannot be legally sold in Italy. Within Sardinia, enforcement of the ban is sporadic and the cheese is available as a black market item, selling for about three times an ordinary cheese’s price. So, If you are a big fan of cheese be careful with the cheese that you choose to eat ok? This is true and not only a hoax so believe it! Bon Apetit! WORDS to REMEMBER: *Sardinia – A city in Italy. *fermentation - the chemical breaking down of a substance. Example: Cheese is fermented in order to remove some of the fats in its main ingredients.

*decomposition – is the separation of a chemical substance into simpler chemical substances and especially the elements of which it is made up. Example: When we die our body decomposes. *digestive - of or relating to digestion. Example: When we eat, the food is digested in our digestive system. * Larvae - a young wingless often wormlike form (as a grub or caterpillar) that hatches from the egg of many insects. * infests – to live in as a parasite. Example: Casu Marzu is an example of a food that has been infested by larvae though time. * Piophila casei – the scientific name of cheese flies. *contaminated – dirty or impure. Example: You are eating contaminated food. *black market - trade that is against government controls and is also a place wherein illegal selling of things are made. *hoax – is something that is fake or not true. * Bon Apetit! – It’s a French _expression meaning “Happy Eating” or “Enjoy your meal”.