Camembert AOC vote to use raw milk

Raw milk will remain an essential ingredient of the Camembert de Normandie AOC.

Producers have voted to keep lait cru as part of the official manufacturing process.

Major producers Issigny and Lactalis, which makes the popular Président brand had dropped out of the AOC label to use treated milk in the manufacturing process.

The AOC appéllation d’origine controlée is a label which signifies strict geographical and production criteria.

The big producers had sought a vote on the issue as they say that treated milk is safer to use. They continue to make the cheese under the unofficial Fabriqué en Normandie label.

Members of the body that oversees the rule of the AOC agreed lait cru, raw milk, should be kept.

Smaller producers believe that untreated milk adds to the flavour of Camembert. As the AOC label was only established in 1983 it was too late to protect the name which is used around the world.

Photo: IRQUA-Normandie-Rougereau