The Possible Extinction Of Brie Cheese
Brie cheese lovers are saddened by the potential extinction of this cheese
Is the possible extinction of brie cheese true? Many fans shared their favorite brie recipes on social media before the cheese was gone.
In February, the French National Center for Scientific Research announced some very dismal news. The French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) announced some pretty dismal news in February.
The Possible Extinction Of Brie Cheese Issues
This issue revolves around Penicillium Camemberti a strain of fungi that is considered “the gold standard” for brie or Camembert because of its delicious qualities. The cheese itself has its own ecosystem, which includes molds and yeasts that are responsible for the distinctive funk. In recent years, however, the genetic diversity has decreased dramatically. Many French cheeses rely today on a single, fragile strain of fungus — Penicillium Camemberti – that is at risk of disappearing.
Penicillium camemberti, unlike most molds can’t reproduce with other fungi sexually to create genetic diversity. Due to mutations, it is increasingly difficult to clone the mold. Jeanne Ropars is an evolutionary biologist at a CNRS lab. She told VOX the cheeses at risk won’t disappear overnight. They will instead “become more difficult to make.”
In a conversation with Washington Post Ropars and his team suggested that consumers broaden their palates to include cheeses with more funkier flavors and appearances. This basically means Camembert or brie with different mold strains.
Many cheese and food lovers, especially those who love brie, were shocked by the recent news. On X, the social network formerly known by the name Twitter, brie lovers lamented the potential extinction of the stinky cheese they love. “Brie cheese will soon be extinct, and you’re not doing anything about it? Scientists in France have made it asexual, and the bacteria responsible for its creation cannot reproduce on their own. It is now dying at alarming rates. And you’re just typing into a spreadsheet? said a user.
People have created recipes, charcuterie board and other things to celebrate brie in the wake of this news. Emmy Rener — founder of Sophisticated Spreads, a charcuterie board business (@sophisticatedspreads) — posted a TikTok of a charcuterie spread complete with a wheel of brie, nuts, crackers and fruit. The caption read: “When you discover that BRIE CHEESE could go extinct due to the lack of bacteria in the world.”
Another user follows suit Posting a video with the caption “Me on my way to make a Charcuterie Board after hearing that brie was going extinct, because it’s literally my favorite cheese, and a life without brie or raspberry preservatives would not be a life I want to lead.”
Some people opted to share their brie grilled-cheese recipes instead of elaborate cheese spreads. Some people rushed to the local supermarkets to buy as much brie as they could. Some even claimed that they would give up brie forever to enjoy other cheeses like feta or gouda.
