The ‘most dangerous’ cheese in the world is not for the squeamish

Casu marzu, hailing from Sardinia, has been officially called ‘the most dangerous cheese’ by many experts including Guinness World Records. They state,

The most dangerous cheese to human health is Casu Marzu (or ''rotten cheese''), an illegally-produced sheeps' milk cheese considered a delicacy in Sardinia, Italy.

Regardless of its dangerous reputation in the culinary world, perhaps just hearing how it is made and exactly what it contains would be enough to dissuade those among us who are faint of heart. What gives casu marzu its distinctive taste and reputation is that it is infested with maggots.

How casu marzu is made

According to CNN Travel, during the preparing state of the cheese, cheese skipper flies lay their eggs in the cracks of the cheese. This results in maggots hatching within, which then feed on the cheese and break it down to transform it into a soft creamy consistency. This soft creamy cheese can then be scooped up to be served to whoever wants to eat the cheese writhing with live maggots.

Casu marzu can be dangerous to consume. As reported by Euro News, this TikToker felt ill after trying casu marzu.

Eating casu marzu can be dangerous because any maggots that do not die in the process of being chewed can cause illness by travelling down the digestive tract.

Casu marzu, an illegal Sardinian delicacy

According to CNN,casu marzu is considered a delicacy in Sardenia. Some even believe that it is an aphrodisiac. The article quotes Paolo Solinas, a 29-year-old Sardinian gastronome saying,

The maggot infestation is the spell and delight of this cheese.

The recipe for how to make casu marzu can be traced far back into history, with many Sardinians continuing the practice as a family tradition. It is typically produced in June, which has the optimal weather conditions necessary for the cheese to ripen. The whole process takes about three months.

It is illegal to sell casu marzu in Italy since 1962 because of the Italian government’s laws against selling foods which could contain parasites. If anyone is found selling this cheese, they could be fined for up to €50,000 or £43165,75.

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