France's 'Camembert' war over

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2008

CAEN, France (AFP) — France's creamy raw milk Camembert cheese won a battle of exclusiveness Thursday after producers and a government body agreed on a revision of criteria for a coveted label after months of conflict.

Under new rules the iconic cheese must be made from raw milk from a region half the size of the previous area in Normandy.

Major groups Lactalis and Isigny-Sainte-Mere which together make more than 80 percent of Camembert with the Appelation d'Origine Controllee (AOC) label had contested the exclusive use of raw milk for health reasons.

One in two cows providing the milk must also be of Normandy origin and they must graze on Normandy pastures for at least six months and be fed hay the rest of the time.

No conditions had been set...