Britain consumes around 700,000 tonnes of cheese a year and it is enjoyed by 98% of British households. The average person eats about 30 grams of cheese per day, with 65% of adults claiming cheese is one of their favourite foods. Self-confessed cheese lovers include Vernon Kay, Helena Christensen and Denise Van Outen, and Helena Christensen even refers to it as 'incredibly sensual’.

Cheese can be made from a variety of milks, not only from cows, but goats, sheep, buffalos, and even horses and camels. Despite common misconceptions, most people who are lactose intolerant are in fact able to eat most hard cheeses.2 Cheese also made from sheep’s milk can be an alternative for those who suffer intolerance to dairy products, with lactose being one of the most common intolerances.

Cheese has been part of the British diet for centuries with the artisan cheese market growing strong in Britain. There are many types of cheese – from hard to soft, to blue, to blended – yet the nation’s favourite cheese continues to be Cheddar and it accounts for more than 55% of the cheese market. France boasts a reputation for being the global champion of cheese with 600 types under their belt, however with 700 home grown cheeses it appears the UK may be emerging at the forefront of cheese making.