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How Bacteria “Blow” Holes in Swiss Cheese

How Bacteria “Blow” Holes in Swiss Cheese

Learn from an affineur (who oversees the maturing of cheese) about how the carbon dioxide gas produced by propionic acid bacteria ”blows” holes in Swiss cheese.
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Transcript

NARRATOR: These cows are grazing in the lush pastures of Switzerland.

Their milk is being made into Emmentaler, more commonly known as Swiss cheese. Every day the highest quality fresh milk is fermented to begin the cheesemaking process.

RENE MAYER: It takes a long time until this cheese--we call it Emmental, and it's better known in the world as Swiss cheese--gets ready for sale. It takes about six months to eight months until it gets ripe and good enough to eat. These are its famous Swiss cheese holes. They are not artificial. They are made by propionic acid bacterias, which produce carbon dioxide, and this carbon dioxide blows the holes in the cheese.