LONDON (AP) — Renowned British chef Jamie Oliver is investigating the theft of a significant quantity of cheddar cheese.
Oliver, who became famous as “The Naked Chef” by simplifying food preparation, humorously took to social media to engage his followers in a serious matter—the disappearance of 22 metric tons (48,488 pounds) of prized artisanal cheddar worth £300,000 (approximately $390,000) that was stolen in a sophisticated scam.
Dubbed the “grate cheese robbery,” Oliver urged his 10.5 million Instagram followers to watch for “lorry loads of very posh cheese,” following the theft that occurred when a fraudster disguised as a wholesale distributor for a well-known French retailer successfully made off with the cheese.
The theft involved nearly 1,000 wheels of fine, cloth-wrapped cheddar from Neal’s Yard Dairy, who reported the incident on October 21 after realizing the scam.
“If the deal seems too gouda to be true, it probably is! Let’s catch these cheese bandits,” Oliver said, appealing to the public for assistance.
Cheddar cheese, originating from a village in southwest England, is internationally recognized and produced in numerous countries; however, true British cheddar is crafted by a select number of producers, Oliver noted. “These are some of the cheeses, or most of them, that got nicked,” he shared in a video accompanying his post.
Among the stolen cheeses were varieties from three specific makers: Hafod Welsh organic cheddar, Westcombe cheddar, and Pitchfork cheddar.
International law enforcement, including detectives at Scotland Yard, are actively searching for the individuals responsible for this cheese heist. Neal’s Yard Dairy, a distributor and retailer of British artisanal cheese, has alerted cheesemongers worldwide to be vigilant for the stolen goods, particularly in blocks weighing either 10 kilograms (22 pounds) or 24 kilograms (52 pounds).
“If anyone comes across premium cheese being sold at suspiciously low prices, it’s likely the work of some wrong’uns,” warned Oliver, emphasizing the importance of vigilance in the cheese community.
