A century on, experts crack mystery of holes in Swiss cheese

Phys.Org ^ | 05-28-2015 | Staff

[Red Badger]

Eureka! After about a century of research, Swiss scientists have finally cracked the mystery of the holes in Swiss cheese.

Despite what you may have been told as a child, they are not caused by mice nibbling away inside cheese wheels.

Experts from Agroscope, a state centre for agricultural research, said the phenomenon—which marks famous Swiss cheeses such as Emmental and Appenzell—was caused by tiny bits of hay present in the milk and not bacteria as previously thought.

They found that the mystery holes in such cheeses became smaller or disappeared when milk used for cheese-making was extracted using modern methods.

"It's the disappearance of the traditional bucket" used during milking that caused the difference, said Agroscope spokesman Regis Nyffeler, adding that bits of hay fell into it and then eventually caused the holes.

Agroscope said the subject had been under study since at least 1917 when American William Clark published a detailed study and came to the conclusion that it was caused by carbon dioxide released by bacteria present in the milk.

Agroscope scientists noted that Swiss cheeses had fewer holes over the past 10 to 15 years as open buckets were replaced by sealed milking machines which "completely did away with the presence of tiny hay particles in the milk".

[Dr. Thorne]

Thanks God! I’ve been losing sleep over this for years. /s

[JoeProBono]

[who_would_fardels_bear]

So if I call some a "hay hole" that's a compliment?

What if a Cockney called someone a "hay hole"?

[knarf]

IVORY soap beat y’TO it !

[VRWCarea51]

That’s as definitive as Globull Warming.

If they experimented with mixing in hay particles I would tend to agree, however what is to say it isn’t tiny particles of fly crap of Cow poop?

Sounds like they just guessed.

[tumblindice]

We could ask the guy who cut this cheese.

[Boonie]

Wonder how much this stupid study costs taxpayers?????

[PistolPaknMama]

Swiss cheeses had fewer holes over the past 10 to 15 years as open buckets were replaced by sealed milking machines

Well, then what causes the rest of the holes?

[Red Badger]

They are artificial holes.....................

[Talisker]

Well, then what causes the rest of the holes?

[mosaicwolf]

"They are artificial holes....................."

Thanks for the info. I won't eat Swiss cheese without holes. Why would anybody?

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

Silly. Everyone knows it’s global worming.

[rdl6989]

I still think it’s bubbles in milk as the curd hardens.

[ETL]

I won't eat Swiss cheese without holes. Why would anybody?

The holes are my favorite part. ZERO calories. ZERO fat.

[a fool in paradise]

A: Moose bites

[a fool in paradise]

Texture in food is important, as is color.

Even people who have lost their sense of smell (and taste) want a variety of textures in what they consume.

[Publius]

Well, then what causes the rest of the holes?

I'm more concerned about who is hoarding the holes. Where are they stored? Is Goldman Sachs writing derivatives on those missing holes?

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

What if a Cockney called someone a "hay hole"?

'eaven and 'ell then 'e'd get a punch in the bloomin' cobbler's awls.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

Of course there is the NSFW animated gif of Mickey Mouse.

Again, mildly NSFW.

http://i.imgur.com/Y5otI59.gif