China has lifted a ban on cheese that gets its flavor and smell from bacteria. Health officials banned some cheeses after they found the bacteria used to make the cheeses were not approved. The cheeses now approved include Brie and Camembert. The ban was lifted after meetings between the European Commission and Chinese health officials. Chinese health officials said the bacteria used to make these cheeses were not harmful to our health.
Cheese lovers in China were happy the ban was lifted. Cheese is becoming more popular in China. It is not a typical part of the Chinese diet. However, tastes are changing because pizza and other western food are becoming more popular. A Shanghai cheese importer said: "It's a real relief…this category of cheese is legally importable." Cheese sales in China will be worth $820 million this year, up by 25 per cent from last year.