White Collar inspired question

[ratcreature]

In the recent ep Diana claims that Neal's raw milk Pecorino cheese was illegal (Neal counters that it was a gift, not sold), which I found very strange. I know that there is more concern about risks of raw milk products in the US than elsewhere, but surely the US wouldn't outlaw all kinds of cheeses? What on earth would be sold as Parmesan cheese in the US for example (I mean if you want the non-ersatz kind, i.e. proper Parmigiano-Reggiano), if raw milk cheese was really illegal? Or Gruyère? Or any of the other common cheeses that need raw milk? It's not like raw milk is only used in obscure specialty cheeses foodie snobs seek out.

Comments

[kyriacarlisle]

At the moment, raw milk cheese is legal if it's aged over 60 days.

Neal *could*, I guess, have had a pecorino fresco - the 15-45 day aging period would make it young enough to raise FDA eyebrows.

(Oh. Here via network, btw.)

[ratcreature]

Well, at least that still leaves many cheeses legal. But how inconvenient. I'm now imagining black market deals to get some young Brie or Camembert...

[saraht]

There are, in fact, secret unpasteurized milk rings in New York, and I wouldn't be surprised if this was leading to secret cheese production.

[ratcreature]

...

Right. Once again the lessons of the prohibition didn't stick. Next, mafia controlled cows...

I suspect it would be safer if they just controlled the raw milk products above board rather than pushing it into secret milk rings.

[saraht]

No, because if pasteurization weren't the "floor," then the companies would be selling cheap unpasteurized milk to the poor, and there'd be dysentery like the world has never known. Unfortunately.