White Bloom on Cheddar Cheese

[Jugglering]

Does anyone know what that white *bloom* on cheddar cheese is ? I often find it on the surface of really mature cheeses. It's not mould, doesn't seem to affect the taste and I'm sure it's not harmful, but it just seems a bit offputting ......

[theprof]

It's perfectly harmless. The bloom and the small white crystals found inside a really mature cheese are crystals of calcium lactate.

Bacteria in a maturing cheese convert some of the lactic acid present into a less soluble form using the calcium carbonate contained within the cheese. This salt is calcium lactate.

For many years people tended to shun cheeses that contained these crystals, but recently they have become a big selling point. Premium mature cheeses nowadays are often inoculated with substances which allows the cheese to form an excess of these crystals and cheese experts will select those with plenty of calcium lactate lactate crystals in preference to those without.

[Jugglering]

Cheers Prof ! Brilliant answer, worth every one of the 10 gold stars I can't award it hehe.... (I can however, throw you three red ones .....)

[theprof]

Three will do me fine. Thanks Jugglering.