Key facts
- Social media falsely claimed extreme heat threatened Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and its storage facilities.
- Credito Emiliano's cheese bank (MGT) confirmed its operations are unaffected by the heatwave.
- MGT stores 500,000 cheese wheels valued at 300 million euros.
- Increased energy consumption for cooling at MGT rose by 30% due to the heat.
- The Parmigiano Reggiano consortium stated that production is not currently at risk from heatwaves.
- Farms supplying milk for the cheese are equipped with systems to manage cow comfort and ensure supply.
Social media platforms have amplified and falsified reports suggesting that Italy's extreme heatwave poses a threat to Parmigiano Reggiano cheese production and the 'cheese banks' that store the wheels as loan collateral. However, these claims have been debunked.
Credito Emiliano S.p.A's Magazini Generali delle Tagliate (MGT), a primary storage facility for the cheese, confirmed that its operations remain unaffected by the high temperatures. MGT stores approximately 500,000 wheels of Parmigiano Reggiano, valued at 300 million euros ($350 million), in climate-controlled warehouses. Giancarlo Ravanetti, MGT's general manager, stated that while energy consumption for cooling has increased by 30%, the cheese wheels are being stored and aged under optimal conditions and are not at risk.
MGT has made significant investments in energy efficiency, including upgrading refrigeration units, improving building insulation, and installing photovoltaic systems with a 1.5 MW capacity. These measures ensure the stability of the storage environment.
The Parmigiano Reggiano consortium acknowledged that heatwaves can reduce milk production, potentially by around 10%. However, the consortium emphasized that the cheese's production is not currently at risk. They highlighted that dairy cows are primarily fed preserved and dried forage, ensuring a consistent supply even during droughts. Furthermore, farms supplying the majority of the milk are equipped with fans, controlled water-spraying systems, and environmental monitoring to maintain cow comfort. Milk from cooler hilly and mountain areas also contributes to the supply.