French comté wins World Cheese Awards as British entries delayed

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 14 Nov, 17:13 · Archive

A 24-month-aged French comté has won the World Cheese Awards for the first time in 15 years, with British entries held up at customs.

A 24-month-aged French comté from the Jura region has been crowned the world's finest cheese at the World Cheese Awards in Córdoba, Spain. The competition, now in its 38th year, is the world's largest cheese-only contest. It evaluated a record 5,330 entries from 45 countries across six continents, with 270 judges from 51 nations participating.

The comté beat a Swiss alpine cheese and a French sheep's milk cheese, which shared second place. It marks France's first triumph in the competition in 15 years, the previous winner being an Ossau-Iraty in 2011. Jean-Charles Arnaud, the fourth-generation cheesemaker behind the winning entry, said: 'We're very proud, for the milk producers, for the cheesemakers, for the affineurs, for everybody.'

British entries were held up at customs due to EU import regulations. The Daily Mail reports that none of the UK cheeses that made it on time reached the final round of 14. John Farrand, managing director of the Guild of Fine Food which organises the event, told the Telegraph: 'No-shows on the judging table were clearly evident today, and we know there have been issues with some of the British cheese entries in World Cheese Awards this year.' He attributed delays to 'challenges of exporting into the EU and, in particular, Spain' compounded by strike disruption across Spain that week.

How it is being reported

• Brie-xit Means Brie-xit: French win cheese of the year after British entries get held up at the border due to EU import regulationsIt's the first time the World Cheese Awards winner has gone across the Channel in 15 years, being awarded to the 24-month-aged French Comté.Daily Mail · 14 Nov, 16:56
• France wins world's best cheese for first time in 15 years as British entries arrive late to award ceremonyA 24-month-aged comté has claimed the title of the world's finest cheese after the British entries were held up at customs The hard, mountain-style cheese from the Jura region of eastern France saw off a Swiss alpine entry and a French sheep's milk cheese, which shared second place, to take the crown. It marks France's first triumph in the World Cheese Awards in 15 years, the last being 2011, when an Ossau-Iraty took the top honour. The competition, now in its 38th year, is the world's largest cheese-only contest, where 270 judges from 51 nations gathered in Córdoba, Spain, to evaluate a…GB News · 14 Nov, 04:54

In this story: France · Switzerland · Spain · Jean-Charles Arnaud · Guild of Fine Food · John Farrand · Córdoba

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