British chef Jamie Oliver is getting involved in a cheesy caper after a significant amount of cheddar was stolen. Known for his down-to-earth cooking style as “The Naked Chef,” Oliver took to social media to enlist the help of his followers in solving the mystery surrounding the theft of 22 metric tons (48,488 pounds) of award-winning cheddar valued at £300,000 ($390,000).
Dubbed the “grate cheese robbery,” Oliver urged his 10.5 million Instagram followers to be on the lookout for “lorry loads of very posh cheese.” The heist occurred when nearly 1,000 wheels of artisan cheddar were taken from Neal’s Yard Dairy by a con artist impersonating a wholesale distributor for a prominent French retailer. The theft was reported on October 21, after the scam was discovered.
“If the deal seems too gouda to be true, it probably is! Let’s find these cheese stealers,” wrote Oliver in his post.
Cheddar, originating from a village in southwest England, is renowned worldwide and lacks the protected designation that other regional products, like champagne, enjoy, allowing it to be produced in various countries. However, Oliver pointed out that few authentic British cheddar makers remain.
He highlighted that the stolen cheeses included varieties from three producers: Hafod Welsh organic cheddar, Westcombe cheddar, and Pitchfork cheddar.
Detectives at Scotland Yard, along with international authorities, are currently investigating the theft. Neal’s Yard Dairy has also called on international cheesemongers to keep an eye out for the stolen cheese, particularly in blocks of 10 kilograms (22 pounds) and 24 kilograms (52 pounds).
“If anyone hears anything about posh cheese going for cheap, it’s probably some wrong’uns,” Oliver warned in his video accompanying the message.
Credit: ABC News
