Parmesan cheese production safe from Italy's heatwave, despite social media claims

Claims circulating on social media that Italy's extreme heatwave is endangering Parmigiano Reggiano cheese production and the "cheese banks" that store it have been debunked. The cheese is produced under strict specifications in Italy's Emilia Romagna region, with milk from cows fed local forage. Wheels must age for at least 12 months, and some age for up to 40 months.

Several banks accept aging cheese wheels as collateral for loans. Magazzini Generali delle Tagliate (MGT), part of Credito Emiliano S.p.A., has stored 500,000 wheels worth 300 million euros since 1953. MGT confirmed that despite a 30% increase in cooling energy consumption due to the heat, neither the cheese nor its operations are threatened. The company has invested in energy efficiency, including upgraded cooling units and solar panels.

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The warehouses are not affected and are operating normally, ensuring that the cheese wheels are stored and aged in optimal conditions.

The Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium acknowledged that heatwaves pose a "long-standing challenge" by reducing cow milk yields by up to 10%. However, they stated that production is not currently threatened. Farms supplying 70% of the milk use fans, misting systems, and environmental monitoring to protect cows. The consortium also noted that cows are primarily fed conserved and dried fodder to ensure supply during droughts.

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The production of Parmigiano Reggiano is not currently threatened.