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How to spot fake cheese in 3 seconds? A method from Italy that is kept quiet
28.02.2025 15:54
Italian cheesemakers have been hiding a simple way to spot counterfeit cheese for decades - otherwise the market would have collapsed in a week.
We'll tell you how to tell real cheese from fake in three seconds.
Why is this important?
According to the Italian Cheesemakers Association, 40% of cheeses in the world are fake. Palm oil, starch and chemical thickeners are used instead of milk. Such products not only deceive the taste, but also harm health: they cause allergies and increase cholesterol.
Method from Italy: 3 steps in 3 seconds
Italian experts use the rule "Look-Touch-Check". No labs - just your eyes and hands.
Look at the cut
Real cheese: uneven structure, small holes (if provided by the variety), matte shade.
Fake: perfectly smooth cut, shiny surface, air bubbles (like in plasticine).
Feel the edges
Real cheese: the edges are slightly crumbly (for hard varieties) or softly stretchy (for fresh ones, like mozzarella).
Counterfeit: forms “rubber” fibers, does not break or stretch, but tears.
Tip: Press the cheese with your fingernail. The real one will leave a dent, the fake one will restore its shape.
Check the reaction to heat
Place the piece on a warm spoon or blow on it.
Real cheese: melts slightly, releasing milk fat.
Fake: dries out, cracks or bubbles (sign of starch and chemicals).
How to Choose Quality Cheese? Tips from Italians
1. Look for codes. For example, parmesan cheese marked PARMIGIANO REGGIANO DOP and laser engraved on the crust.
2. Buy sliced cheese in front of you. Vacuum packaging is more likely to hide counterfeit cheese.
3. Read the ingredients. Only milk, enzymes, salt and starter. If there are "vegetable fats" - it's a fake.
What happens if you eat fake cheese?
Hard cheeses (like Parmesan): high risk of getting a dose of nitrates instead of protein.
Soft cheeses (like brie): often contain antibiotics to increase shelf life.
Smoked cheeses: in 70% of cases, the “liquid smoke” in the composition causes gastritis.
