It's cheese, but why? It would probably surprise you to learn that the No. 1 shoplifted food item in the world is not a pocket-sized sweet or high-end liquor but rather everyone's favorite burger topping: cheese.
A 2022 survey conducted by the National Retail Federation found laundry detergent to be among the most stolen items in organized retail crime, which has contributed to a $94.5 billion inventory shrinkage issue for the retail industry. These crimes aren't as simple as a lone shoplifter pocketing a product.
Suffice to say, it's a lot. Your burning question, of course, is, "Why?" As it turns out, most cheese is stolen in large quantities for resale to other markets and restaurants (via HuffPost).
However, according to a popular news website, criminologists describe cheese as a literally 'CRAVED' food item which means - Concealable, Removable, Available, Valuable, Enjoyable and Disposable. It's so small that it can be stashed in a stroller, coat or even purse.
The Most Stolen Food In The World Is Cheese. Around 4% of ALL the cheese made in the world gets stolen. There's even a black market of stolen cheeses.
It's cheese, but why? It would probably surprise you to learn that the No. 1 shoplifted food item in the world is not a pocket-sized sweet or high-end liquor but rather everyone's favorite burger topping: cheese.
The reason the dairy product was converted to cheese was because it has a longer shelf life than other dairy products as the government searched for solutions to the problem it had created. This led to Ronald Reagan enacting public distribution of the government cheese in 1981.
Wisconsin Cheese Store Shoplift Attempt. A gang of thieves in Wisconsin weren't so lucky when they stole 70,000 pounds (31,751 kg) of cheese from a cheese store in Germantown. The cheeses were recovered the next night 20 miles (32 km) away in Milwaukee when the thieves tried to sell them for a dollar a pound.
The International Dairy Federation estimates that France holds the title for the most cheese consumed in a year per capita, but Italy boasts a close second.
The most hated food in the US is Olives, being named the worst by 13 states. Anchovies are also unpopular, with 12 states saying it's the worst food. There are only 10 foods collectively despised by different states: olives, anchovies, eggplant, beets, turkey bacon, bologna, sushi, well-done steak, carrots and pickles.
A total of 66.6 percent of all shoplifters reported were under 30 years of age; 6.2 percent were under 12 years of age; 26.7 percent were between 12 and 17 years of age; and 33.7 percent were between 18 and 29 years.
It is commonly touted that men are more likely to shoplift than women – however, this is based on data from 1980 and may be outdated. Approximately 1 out of 11 people in the US are shoplifters. ¼ of shoplifters are children. 55% of shoplifters began shoplifting when they were teenagers.
Where are stolen items sold? Burglars and thieves usually steal valuables to turn a profit. Pawn shops are the most common places to recover stolen items. But online listing sites like Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace are increasingly popular places to sell stolen goods.
“It's one of the oldest cheeses in the world and is essentially still produced today the same way it was 1,000 years ago,” says Nicola Bertinelli, president of the Consortium of Parmigiano Reggiano. “And yet, we're still seeing people adapt the way they use it, being ever more creative.”
The world's rarest and most expensive cheese, known as Pule, is made out of the milk of Balkan donkeys. And it is only produced at the Zasavica Special Nature Reserve in Serbia. These donkeys are endangered and are under special protection.
Conciato Romano is the oldest cheese in the world. Mentioned by Pliny as well as Martial, it has been made in the Caserta region since the days of the Samnites, before they were subjugated by the Romans.
They keep this cheese hundreds of feet below ground in converted limestone mines in Missouri. The “cheese caves” are kept at a perfect 36 degrees Fahrenheit and are home to the massive stockpiles of government=owned cheese. The United States' cheese hoard began in the 1970s during a national dairy shortage.
Cheese can be aged for several weeks or for several years. Back in 2012, a block of 40-year-old Cheddar made headlines when a cheese shop owner found it in the back of an old cooler. More recently, a 20-year-old Cheddar was selling for more than $200 a pound.
Shoplifting FAQ
There are several reasons why people shoplift. This includes the need to buy essential items (such as food or baby products), peer pressure from friends, and psychological disorders that make the urge to steal feel impossible to overcome.