Bongrain advertises with edible cheese rind, although this contains natamycin, which is used in medicine as an antifungal agent. Those who like to eat cheese, has already taken large amounts may be to natamycin. This serves mainly as a preservative, but is also used in medicine and thus unfolds the immediate effects on the human organism.
What is natamycin?
Natamycin, also called pimaricin is using certain bacteria of the genus Streptomyces bio (now also commonly genetically) was prepared. Often in this context is also the term “ray fungus” because it is the formation of fungal colonies is. Natamycin acts pharmacologically in terms of yeasts and molds, however, is ineffective against bacteria. For this reason it is used in medicine (in both veterinary and human medicine) primarily used to treat fungal infections. However, treatment takes place in the medical field only in external form, ie, for application to the skin.
What looks natamycin on cheese?
In food production it is often used as a preservative (E 235). Here it is used primarily on the rind and dried and cured sausages mildew preventive treatment. It is in this context, but only for the external treatment and not approved for human consumption. It may therefore up to 5 millimeters below the surface of the treated food to be detectable.
Avoiding health risks
Regular use of agents with antifungal activity should be avoided as the body can build up in this way pathogens are very resistant to these drugs. For this reason, cheese rind and sausage casing should be removed as 5 millimeters wide of the product. About the allowable values, at least, there is disagreement, so that a harmful effect also approved for food can not be ruled out entirely.
The cheese of Bongrain:
Discouraged, at least from the consumption of treated cheese rind and sausage casing. Also, the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) has been identified in a study that the use of natamycin should be limited to products whose surface is removed before consumption. The French cheese maker Bongrain declared its rind even considered edible, although it contains precisely natamycin. Food Watch Association (an association which fights for the protection of consumers in the food industry) so the cheese multi severely criticized and challenged our government to take action. For this purpose, a Participatory action offered.
Consumer protection? Out of place
That a corporation can declare with impunity its products as “edible”, although this poses health risks to consumers’ hostility is in perfect shape. But unfortunately, the consumer seems to be at this point not generally particularly worth protecting. Must cheese, which is released to open a cheese counter need not be labeled as treated with natamycin. The consumer knows not even know if he has to cut off the rind 5 mm. And also the information about the use of natamycin be disclosed only to the poor consumers. Probably the cheese industry to keep this information specifically the thumb.
