Cheese mite facts for kids
Cheese mites are tiny creatures, like very small spiders, that live in food. You might find them in grain or on plant leaves.
They sometimes appear in flour, but they really love cheese! Cheese that is kept cold in a refrigerator usually doesn't have mites. This is because mites prefer places that are warm and damp.
Contents
How Cheese Mites Help Make Cheese
Believe it or not, cheese mites are sometimes used on purpose to make special kinds of cheese. They help give these cheeses a unique flavor and a cool, bumpy look.
Famous Mite Cheeses
Two great examples of cheeses made with mites are Milbenkäse and Mimolette.
Milbenkäse Cheese
A study in 2010 found that Milbenkäse cheese is made using a specific type of mite called Tyrolichus casei. These mites work on the surface of the cheese.
Mimolette Cheese
For Mimolette cheese, a different mite is used. This mite is called Acarus siro, which you might also know as a flour mite. The mites create a textured crust on the cheese.
Images for kids
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Mimolette cheese showing its unique crust, made by mites
See also
In Spanish: Ácaro del queso para niños
