You either love or loathe smelly French cheese. But consumers in China no longer have the choice after authorities banned imported mould-ripened cheese in the country, spreading despair among fans of Camembert and Roquefort.
Several dozen cheeses mostly made in France, as well as Italian Gorgonzola, can no longer be imported to China, according to Vincent Marion, co-founder of Shanghai-based vendor Cheese Republic. “It's not possible [to] import from any city in China,” he said.
The ban, which started in July but became nationwide last week, was launched after health authorities informed quarantine officials that bacteria colonies such as the penicillin found in blue cheese were not on an approved import list, according to an importer.