What makes some cheese smell bad?
Chloe Ramirez
Updated on April 03, 2026
What makes some cheese smell bad?
The warm, moist, and salty solution is the perfect environment to attract bacteria. The bacteria most responsible for the smelly smell are called Brevibacterium linens (also called B. linens). They break down the protein on the outer layer of the cheese (called rind) and release stinky gasses.
Can I eat cheese that smells?
And sometimes it’s, well, stinky. But when it comes to your favorite fromage, an overpowering scent isn’t always a bad thing. In fact, many cheeses are decidedly strong smelling, yet perfectly fine to eat. In fact, mold is intentionally added to many cheeses as part of the ripening process.
Why does some cheese smell like vomit?
It turns out “cheesy vomit,” otherwise known as the smell of butyric acid, forms an important component of cheese, along with a flavor dubbed “butter sweet cream,” which comes from the organic compound diacetyl. Together, they took on a savory, cheesy scent.
Is stinky cheese good for you?
Apparently, stinky cheeses, and Roquefort in particular, have anti-inflammatory chemicals that help your heart and improve the health of the stomach and skin.
What is the cheese that smells like vomit?
That distinctive pukey smell you allude to is the whiff of butyric acid, a short-chain fatty acid naturally ocurring in plant and animal fats. It’s found in vomit, and it’s found in parmesan cheese (it’s found elsewhere, too, but let’s not digress).
Does lemon kill Listeria?
… Therefore, lemon juice is considered effective for disinfection of drinking water [6]. In addition, since lemon juice inactivates Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella enteritidis, and Listeria monocytogenes, which can cause food poisoning, the rationality of cooking methods using lemon juice, has been proven [7] .
Why do some cheeses smell bad, but taste good?
They earn us no friends in close quarters — that is, unless everyone is eating it. Why is it that a cheese can smell so bad, but taste so good? Two words: Brevibacterium linens. Also known as b. linens, this is the bacteria responsible for the funk so closely associated with many washed-rind cheeses.
Why does a man’s sweat smell like cheese?
Mostly men sweat smells like cheese. Men have the tendency that has the power to generate some fatty acids in the human body. Due to these fatty acids gives a cheesy smell to the sweat of the human body. This cheesy smell produces mostly in the armpits of the men’s body.
Why does Swiss cheese smell like swiss cheese?
Yes, you read it right; bacteria and fungi. The distinctive cheese smell you find in Swiss cheese ,for example, results from fermentation of the milk sugar (i.e. Lactose) by those specific micro-organisms. Ok, let’s first have an idea what causes cheese to smell, and after that, we can explain your “Cheesy” smell.
Why is stinky cheese considered an animal product?
“Animal products have the property that they decay rapidly, unlike plant products,” Rozin says. “So they can become a source of infection and putrefaction.” Yet stinky cheese, while itself an animal product, presents a particularly interesting case.
What’s the smelliest cheese on Earth?
Top 10 Stinkiest Cheeses in the World Pont l’Eveque. This smelly French delicacy is one of the oldest known types of cheese, dating back to the 13th century. Camembert. Rich in chemicals like ammonia, sodium chloride, and succinic acid, Camembert de Normandy smells like the secret project of a chemical company. Muenster / Munster. Epoisses. Brie de Meaux. Roquefort. Limburger. Stinking Bishop.
Why does cheese stink so bad?
Why do some cheeses smell bad? At the top of the smelly cheese list, washed-rind cheeses have been bathed in any number of things, including water, salt, wine, spices, and various liquors. The washing helps the cheese retain moisture and develop their characteristic flavors. The outside of the not-yet-smelly cheese then builds up a colony of ofbrevibacterium linens, otherwise known as b. linens. These cultures are what cause the strong smell.
Why do I keep smelling “cheese”?
Why does cheese smell? In most cases, cheese that hasn’t gone off smells because of a simple chemical reaction that occurs during production. Washed-rind cheeses have their curds washed in a brine solution. A combination of bacteria, yeast, and fungi transform bland curd into the final product.
Why does your sweat smell like cheese?
Your sweat can smell like cheese because of the presence of sulfur and fatty acids on skin, bacteria, exercise, and bromhidrosis. It is recommended to maintain proper hygiene to prevent cheese like sweat. When the person feels the odor of the sweat then a feeling of unpleasant environment generates.