Forty-fourth French cheese officially recognised

A cheese has become the 44th French cheese to be officially recognised by the European Commission.  Fourme de Montbrison is made in the Forez mountains in central France in a 67-kilometer-square area. It is cylindrical, and covered in a thin orange skin.

The Fourme de Montbrison, which is made in thirty three villages, has benefitted from a French AOC, or appellation d’origine controlee, guarantee of authenticity since 1972.

Now though it has an AOP, or appellation d’origine protégée recognition (in English that’s a PDO, or Protected Designation of Origin).

It means it comes from a specific area, meets specific production qualities and has significant notoriety.