Jamie Oliver's urgent message to cheese fans after crooks steal £300,000 worth of cheddar

Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has issued an urgent plea to cheese fans after it was revealed that hundreds of thousands of pounds-worth of the dairy product has been stolen

TV star Jamie Oliver weighed in on the shocking events that saw £300,000 worth of cheese stolen.

In a daring swindle, nearly a thousand wheels, equating to 22 tonnes, of Neal's Yard Dairy's finest Cheddar have been snatched by thieves who cunningly impersonated a reputable French wholesaler. The Borough Market-based cheese tycoon was duped into handing over their prized cheeses, sparking an international probe by UK law enforcers to apprehend the culprits.

Upon hearing about the scandal rocking the culinary scene, Jamie Oliver aired his amazement on Instagram, stating: "In a shocking turn of events, Neal's Yard Dairy has fallen victim to a brazen heist of epic proportions."

He mentioned how the massive haul of cheese, valued at a whopping £300,000, has left aficionados of the dairy delight astounded with worry that this contraband could flood the black market. The celebrity chef added his signature twist of humour, warning his followers with "Remember, if the deal seems too gouda to be true, it probably is! Let's find these cheese stealers."

Chiming in, a Neal's Yard Dairy spokesperson disclosed on Instagram: "The theft involved a fraudulent buyer posing as a legitimate wholesale distributor for a major French retailer," reports the Daily Star.

"In a shocking turn of events, Neal's Yard Dairy has fallen victim to a brazen heist of epic proportions. A staggering 22 tonnes of premium cheddar, worth £300,000, have vanished, leaving the cheese world reeling. Cheese enthusiasts are advised to be wary of suspiciously large quantities of premium Cheddar on the black market.

"Remember, if the deal seems too gouda to be true, it probably is! Let's find these cheese stealers. The theft involved a fraudulent buyer posing as a legitimate wholesale distributor for a major French retailer."

They continued: "Over 950 wheels of Hafod, Westcombe, and Pitchfork Cheddar were delivered before the fraud was discovered. Despite the significant financial blow, we have honoured our commitment to our small-scale suppliers and paid all three artisan cheesemakers in full."

The cheesemakers then urged anyone with information to get in touch via info@nealsyarddairy.co.uk. These top-notch cheeses, reportedly clothbound, are available in hefty 10kg and 24kg wheels.

In a statement from the Met Police, they revealed: "On Monday, 21 October we received a report of the theft of a large quantity of cheese from a manufacturer based in Southwark. Enquiries are ongoing into the circumstances."

No arrests have been confirmed as of yet by the police.

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