With more than an estimated 1,800 different types of cheese around the world, it’s no surprise that cheese has become a culinary staple. It’s celebrated for its versatility and array of flavors, which range from the sharp bite of aged cheddar to the creamy smoothness of brie. Whether it’s gracing a gourmet dish or simply being enjoyed on its own, cheese is beloved for not only its rich history but also its delightful taste.
However, beyond its role in the kitchen, cheese has found its way into some truly bizarre and unexpected news stories. In this list, we will dive into ten unusual tales where cheese takes center stage. From a tragic accident involving a massive wheel of cheese to a heroic backyard rescue involving cheese and a raccoon to a record-breaking cheese pizza, these stories showcase how such a common ingredient has become the star of some peculiar headlines.
Here are ten cheesy stories that are sure to delight, excite, and leave you speechless.
Related: Ten Controversial News Stories Surrounding ChatGPT
10 Italian Cheesemaker Killed by His Own Creation
An Italian cheesemaker, 74-year-old Giacomo Chiapparini, founded his factory in the late 1970s in the area of Romano di Lombardia, near Bergamo. The factory produces approximately 15,000 wheels of Grana Padano—a Parmesan-style hard cheese—each year using milk from the cows at the factory. Despite decades of experience in the craft, Chiapparini’s life was taken in a bizarre twist of fate that honestly sounds more like a cheese-themed horror story than real life.
On August 6, 2023, Chiapparini and his 50-year-old son, Tiziano, went to the warehouse after a machine that cleans mold from the cheese wheels set off an alarm. Unfortunately, what began as an attempt to fix “a common problem” would lead to a tragic accident neither of the two men could have predicted.
After the problem with the machine was fixed, Tiziano left the warehouse while his father restarted the machine. However, a shelf collapsed just moments later, creating a domino effect that brought down thousands of 84-pound (40-kg) cheese wheels from as high as 33 feet (10 meters), ultimately burying Chiapparini.
The fire brigade was called around 9 p.m. and arrived within minutes, but sadly, there was little they could do to save Chiapparini. It took rescuers approximately 12 hours “moving the cheeses and shelves by hand” before they were finally able to discover his body on the morning of August 7, 2023.[1]
9 Cheese on Demand: The Ultimate 24/7 Vending Machine
Imagine a world where your cheese cravings can be satisfied at any hour of the day or night. Thanks to a 24/7 automated vending machine that offers a delightful selection of cheeses, crackers, and even charcuterie boards, that dream can very well become a reality. Whether it’s midnight munchies, an early morning indulgence, or the need for a last-minute gift, Perrystead Dairy’s cheese dispensary ensures that cheese is always just a button press away.
“Renegade Cheesemaker” and “Cheese Savant” Yoav Perry has been making cheese for over 15 years. After many years in New York City, Perry and his family moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where his obsessive pursuit to define American cheese turned into an urban creamery—Perrystead Dairy.
According to Perry, “People kept knocking on the door asking to buy cheese,” but he unfortunately was without any retail space. However, the demand for cheese combined with Perry’s knowledge of vending machine operations in Europe—such as a pizza vending machine in Rome and a champagne vending machine in London—inspired him to create a 24-hour cheese vending machine that is completely automated.
The cheese dispensary was installed in April 2024 and is stocked with a variety of Perrystead’s award-winning cheeses, such as a cave-aged cow’s milk cheese called “Intergalactic,” their bronze medalist spruce-strapped soft cheese named “Treehug,” and “Field Day,” which is a straw-aged spring cheese. However, the vending machine doesn’t just offer cheese selections. Inside, you’ll find everything you need to build a charcuterie board—meats, crackers, jams, chutney—and even the board itself, which is available in marble, wood, or slate.
For those unable to get to the cheese dispensary, Perrystead also offers nationwide shipping on all of its cheese products, which can easily be ordered through the website.[2]
8 Cheesy Backyard Rescue
In an unlikely backyard drama that could certainly rival any movie, a group of friends found themselves on a real-life rescue mission starring an unusual character in distress—a raccoon.
Tyler Whalen, Bill Boski, and John Ptaszenski were gathered around a barbeque grill in the early evening hours of June 15, 2024, in Burton, Michigan, when a wild raccoon approached them. While Boski claimed the raccoon was initially skittish, it eventually grew comfortable enough with the three friends to allow the men to pet it.
However, the situation took an even more bizarre turn after the raccoon got into the trash from their cookout earlier and located a piece of cheese. As the raccoon began eating the cheese, he perched on his hind legs, opened his mouth, and started making a “weird gesture.” Assuming the raccoon was choking, Boski went over to the animal and began patting his back.
As Boski continued slapping the raccoon’s back in an attempt to dislodge the cheese, Whalen didn’t feel that Boski was doing it correctly and began instructing him to slap a lower spot on the raccoon’s back. Shortly after, the raccoon coughed up the cheese and simply sashayed away, free to dumpster dive another day.
The entire heroic rescue was captured on camera and has since gone viral, garnering over 17 million views on social media. The three friends have affectionately named the raccoon Rocket, after the character from Guardians of the Galaxy, stating he is welcome back anytime.[3]
7 Cheesy Mistake: How a Snap of Stilton Unraveled a Drug Dealer’s Operation
In an age where social media has become so prevalent, it’s not uncommon to see users sharing photos of their favorite products or local store finds. However, for 39-year-old Carl Stewart of Liverpool, England, his “love of Stilton” would ultimately be his downfall.
So, what exactly could be so wrong with posting a photo of cheese? Well, Stewart was not your typical social media user, instead opting to use an encrypted messaging service to supply large amounts of class A and B drugs. Stewart posted a photo of his hand holding a small block of creamy Stilton cheese from the British retailer Marks & Spencer on EncroChat via his handle “Toffeeforce,” a reference to the Everton football club. However, unbeknownst to Stewart, the service—used exclusively by criminals to engage in drug and weapons dealing, money laundering, and plotting to kill rivals—had been cracked by police in Europe.
From the photo, police analyzed Stewart’s palm and fingerprints, giving them the evidence they needed to arrest him. On May 21, 2021, Stewart was sentenced to 13 years and six months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine, heroin, MDMA, and ketamine, as well as transferring criminal property.[4]
6 German Officer Fired for Swiping 44 Pounds of Cheddar
Police officers are entrusted with upholding the law and maintaining public safety—a responsibility that demands not only integrity but also discretion and an unwavering commitment from those in law enforcement. However, their role extends far beyond just enforcing the laws, as police officers are also seen as guardians of public trust, tasked with handling a wide array of situations with both professionalism and respect.
Unfortunately, one German police officer has found himself in a cheesy predicament, losing his badge over a rather odd case of dairy theft that is certainly “nacho average crime.”
The unnamed officer worked for the highway patrol and was assigned to secure the scene of an accident involving an overturned truck that was hauling a load of cheddar cheese. However, the officer scooped up some of the cargo, ordering one of the rescue crew members to hand him nine 44-pound (20-kg) packages of cheese. In total, the nearly 400 pounds (180 kg) of cheddar cheese was valued at roughly $595 (€554).
While some of the cheese was taken to his office, it is believed that the officer also kept some for himself, his friends, and his relatives. The officer, however, lost his job as a result.
On July 2, 2024, the officer appealed the decision, stating that the cheese was worth practically nothing due to the break in the cold chain and that he wanted to save it from being destroyed. In his defense, he also denied nibbling on any of the cheddar. Ultimately, the court did not agree with the officer’s stance, denying his appeal for dismissal because he committed theft while on duty in uniform and with his service weapon, which “seriously damaged the reputation of the country’s police force.”[5]
5 Cheese Overload: French Duo Sets World Record with a Cheese Pizza
Pizza is a dish that is just as loved as it is versatile. From its humble beginnings as a simple flatbread topped with tomatoes and cheese, pizza has evolved into an international culinary classic. Whether it’s the classic Margherita pizza, the spicy pepperoni, or the gourmet truffle varieties, the versatility of pizza has made it a staple in both home and restaurant kitchens, as well as pizzerias worldwide.
However, it seems as if pizza’s versatility has just reached a new height, with two visionary French chefs at Deliss PIzza in Lyon, France, crafting a pizza that shattered a Guinness World Record. It contains a staggering 1,001 different types of cheeses. Yes, you read that right—1,001!
So, how exactly was such a feat accomplished? French pizza chefs Benoît Bruel and Fabiel Montellanico had help from cheesemaker Sophie Hatat Richard-Luna and YouTuber Florian OnAir. The pizza dough was first pre-cooked to ensure it wouldn’t tear under the weight of all the cheese. From there, 0.07-ounce (2-gram) cubes of each cheese flavor were cut out and placed on top of the pizza, with the softer cheeses being layered on top of the harder cheeses. A cookie cutter was then placed around the cheese in order to hold everything together, and it was cooked that way for the first two minutes. The cookie cutter was then removed, and the pizza was baked until finished.
Just how did these chefs manage to procure over 1,000 different kinds of cheese? Bruel spent five months scouring France for cheese varieties, and luckily, many farmers and cheesemakers even offered their cheese for free, happy to be a part of a world record. In this particular pizza, 940 of the cheeses were French, while the other 61 were from different countries.
Bruel, however, is not a newbie to this line of work or this record. In fact, in 2020, he broke the record for making a pizza with the most variety of cheeses, using 254 at that time. He has now not only quadrupled that number but also surpassed the previous record of 834 cheeses achieved by Morgan Niquet in 2021. In addition to now holding the Guinness World Record for the most varieties of cheese on a pizza, Bruel’s efforts have earned him an additional record for the largest display of cheese varieties (1,001), taking the title from fellow Frenchman Phillippe Marchand, who procured an assortment of 730 cheeses in 2016.[6]
4 Six of the Cutest (but Stinkiest) Little “Cheeses”
There are 10 different species of skunks that can be found all over North and South America, with striped skunks being the smallest species and hog-nosed skunks being the largest.
The most common skunks in North America, striped skunks, are instantly recognizable due to their signature markings—two thick white stripes along the back and tail that sharply contrast an otherwise black coat. However, what truly sets them apart is their ability to emit a well-aimed cloud of stench, hitting a target up to 12 feet (3 meters) away.
Despite their infamous odor, skunks play a crucial role in their ecosystems, benefiting landowners, farmers, and gardeners alike as they not only eat common pests like field mice, moles, ticks, termites, and other insects, but they also serve as prey for other animals, such as coyotes, bobcats, eagles, and owls. Skunks even do a bit of gardening themselves, spreading seeds and plants through their scat.
On July 9, 2024, the Nashville Zoo in Tennessee announced the names of its six one-month-old skunk kits, all of whom are destined to become “the big cheese” as ambassador animals in educational programs there at the Nashville Zoo and other zoos, helping visitors learn just how amazing these animals are despite their stench. Given that these kits will become “big cheeses” one day, they were all given quite fitting names—Cheddar, Feta, Havarti, Brie, Fontina, and Munster.[7]
3 The “Swiss Cheese Pervert”
When you think of cheese, you might envision it melting over a piping hot pizza, pairing it perfectly with a bold red wine, or gracing your favorite sandwich. Unfortunately, in this news story, cheese has taken on an unexpected role—one that’s less about savoring taste and more about a bizarre proposition involving women and Swiss cheese.
On January 10, 2014, the Mayfair Town Watch’s Facebook group posted a photo of a man in a car holding cheese along with a warning that read: “Good Morning Mayfair! Please be aware of the Swiss Cheese Pervert!” According to the group, the suspect, who was later identified as 41-year-old Christopher Pagano. He had been driving around the Northeast Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, neighborhood, along with the areas of Port Richmond, Norristown, and East Falls, exposing himself to women and offering to pay them in exchange for sexual acts involving Swiss cheese.
After a number of witnesses came forward, each being approached by a “white, heavy-set male” fitting Pagano’s description, the Philadelphia and Norristown police departments were able to conduct a joint operation. On January 16, 2014, six armed police officers waited outside Pagano’s apartment until he gave himself up for arrest.
Pagano was originally charged with stalking, indecent exposure, harassment, and open lewdness for harassing four different women. On June 19, 2014, he pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent exposure and four counts of harassment in a plea deal. Pagano was sentenced to eight years of reporting probation, inpatient sex-offender treatment at the Joseph J. Peters Institute, and was restricted to using his vehicle solely for trips to work, church, and medical appointments for one year.[8]
2 Mac and Cheese… Hold the Mac?
Mac and cheese ranks among the top contenders in the world of comfort foods. However, this creamy, cheesy concoction simply cannot be made without both macaroni AND cheese. So, what happens when a craving for this classic dish is met with an unexpected twist? One woman discovered that answer the hard way after ordering macaroni and cheese from a local restaurant, only to find that her order was void of one of the most crucial components.
On July 17, 2024, a TikTok user named Riley posted a video after a series of unfortunate life events, such as being injured and the end of her relationship, leading to “the worst week of her life.” Unfortunately, after ordering a dinner delivery from California Pizza Kitchen, which included a side order of mac and cheese, things only seemed to get worse. Rather than receiving the macaroni and cheese she ordered, Riley only received cheese—no noodles!
Riley stated that she called the restaurant regarding the error, and two separate people told her that she ordered incorrectly, even though she claimed her receipt reflected a side order of “Mac N Cheese.”
Needless to say, Riley’s video about the poor service went viral, prompting the restaurant’s vice president of culinary development, Paul Pszybylski, to make his own video sharing the proper way to make macaroni and cheese. Addressing the order mistake, the restaurant also offered a deal for half off any mac and cheese takeout or delivery orders from July 19, 2024, through July 31, 2024.
As an additional way to make up for their mistake, California Pizza Kitchen also sent Riley a box of goodies that included a certificate for free mac and cheese for a year, a box filled with pasta noodles, a certificate for free pizza for a year, and a letter from the company.[9]
1 From Pizza to Poison: Pizzeria Worker’s Toxic Topping
When it comes to pizza, it seems that there is an endless range of topping choices—classic pepperoni, controversial pineapple, and even more extravagant options like truffle oil and foie gras. While these choices can elevate a simple slice of pizza into a culinary delight, one pizzeria employee took the concept of unexpected ingredients much too far.
On June 1, 2018, Gurol Bicer, the manager of Primo Pizza in Fayetteville, North Carolina, was preparing pizza when he noticed black pellets in the shredded cheese. Bicer immediately stopped making the pizza and went back to review the surveillance footage to determine who made the shredded cheese.
The footage revealed an employee, 55-year-old Ricky Lee Adami, preparing the cheese and then placing an unknown substance—believed to be rat poison—into the cheese-shredder machine. Bicer checked five other tubs of cheese, three of which all contained the same pellets. Thankfully, Bicer was able to discover and discard all the contaminated cheese before it was served to any unsuspecting customers.
Bicer called the police, and Adami was arrested and charged with distributing food containing noxious/deleterious material. Adami, who was previously convicted of multiple crimes in the 1980s and 1990s, such as burning a public building, multiple DWIs, and multiple breaking and enterings, had apparently gotten in trouble with the pizzeria owner hours before the incident, leading Bicer to believe that is what “set him off.”[10]