“CHEDDAR” CHEESE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 18831, 20 March 1931, Page 7

“CHEDDAR” CHEESE.

OBJECTIONS FROM LONDON. By Telegraph— Press Association HAWERA, March 19. Referring to the cheese standardisation controversy of last winter, and subsequent comment at Home concerning the “Cheddar” brand authorised by New Zealand for the export of other than “full cream” cheese, the “Star” to-day publishes a message from a Wellington correspondent stating that the New Zealand High Commissioner has cabled to the Dairy Board as follows:—“With reference to your telegram of February 28th regarding Cheddar cheese, I am afraid you have misunderstood my previous telegram. There is no question or accusation of intention to mislead, and my former message was intended as a serious warning that your action in applying- the term Cheddar to standardised cheese, which is looked upon here as second-class, was giving rise to adverse criticism, and alienating the sympathy of traders of all descriptions. I have received strong representations from the Grocer’s Association and members of the trade. I have noted the report of the Economic Committee, but notwithstanding the fact that some makers here do remove a portion of the fat, the practice referred to is deprecated, and Cheddar is looked upon generally as whole-milk cheese. The Dairy Board has received protests from the London Chamber of Commerce, Grocers’ Federation, and the London Provincial Exchange, and a verbal protest from the Cheesemakers’ Federation. I strongly recommend discontinuance of the word Cheddar as soon as possible, as I am certain its application to standardised cheese will prejudically affect us and lose us the goodwill of the cheese trade.” It is stated that a reply has been sent stating that it is impossible to discontinue the use of the brand Cheddar immediately, as the season's manufacture is almost completed by the end of April, and it would be extremely inconvenient to attempt a change during this short period. The High Commissioner has been asked to ascertain if objections will be satisfactorily met if the present brand is used for the balance of the season, on the understanding that it will be then abandoned unless the cheese so branded satisfies the trade.