Popularity of Stealing Cheese Makes Perfect Sense

on October 25, 2011 at 3:50 PM

stealing cheese Shoplifting food is a very sad thing. Or a very drunk thing if you're in college and just spent your last two dollars on cigarettes and really, really, really need brownies. But I digress (and admit NOTHING). But the fact is shoplifting food, or "shrinkage" as they call it in the food retail world, is a criminal act that is increasing across the globe in these dark economic times. So much so that the Centre for Retail Research decided to see what foods are stolen most often to try and make sense of this uptick in food thievery.

It actually comes as little surprise to me that the most stolen food item in the world is cheese. While the article on Care2Causes theorizes that cheese is a health conscious, nutritious food and therefore points to people who are genuinely hungry and in need, I have a different take.

Cheese is being stolen because cheese is freaking awesome. I mean, is there no food better than cheese? NONE. Nothing beats cheese, be it melted, on a cracker, on your burger, heck, even on broccoli. Cheese is the word. Also, it's found in a package, is compact, and can easily be hidden under a trench coat. Voila! Cheese thieving made simple.

It seems these cheese swipers, like me, have good taste as the next most stolen items read like my grocery store wish list: fresh and cooked premium meats, candy, and alcohol. That, my friends, sounds like a delicious, illegal dinner party.

Also high on the list of food being stolen in North America is infant formula. Now that is truly sad, as no one is throwing a BBQ using formula. And even though it is dairy, like its partner in stolen goods, the cheese -- if you're stealing baby formula, your life most likely does not include baked brie appetizers.

We recently had a food drive at my daughter's school where requests were made for peanut butter and canned tuna fish, for the protein value. I'm thinking next time I'm throwing in some Laughing Cow to our local food bank. Because everyone deserves cheese.

Cheese rules!

What would you think the most stolen food would be in your neighborhood?

Image via Patrick Hoesly/Flickr

About the author April Peveteaux

writes about anything that gets stuck in her craw. A mom of two in Los Angeles, she can't believe she practically lives in the country now after attempting to raise kids in Brooklyn.

Filed Under: food, grocery shopping, in the news

Comments (17)

Nonmember comment from carolyn

on Oct 25, 2011 at 4:10 PM

Maybe deep inside me still lurks a drunk college student, but my reaction was 'of course cheese is the most stolen grocery item. how else would you make nachos or grilled cheese?' Not that I'm advocating theft to do so, nor have I ever stolen cheese (or anything else... except maybe a few of those red correction pencils in second grade).

Report this comment

Doomy234

on Oct 25, 2011 at 4:14 PM

At our tiny little grocery store you could probably walk out with an entire cart of food and they wouldnt even notice. But I would have to say, if I were to take something (not that I would and I dont), it would probably be from the baked good section. Cookies, snack cakes, fruit pies. Something along those lines.

RhondaVeggie

on Oct 25, 2011 at 4:18 PM

It's an addictive substance, of course people steal it

kelticmom

on Oct 25, 2011 at 4:33 PM

My brother used to be the manager of a grocery store. One day he found a young mom trying to steal formula and bread. He took her in the office and found out that she lived in the apartments across the street with her baby and a two year old. The "father" had run out on them. She was on public assistance, but had run out of her WIC for the month. My brother let her go home, but when he told the cashiers what had happened, they put a collection together and that night, they took her formula, diapers, day old bread from the bakery, the deli leftovers from that day and a bunch of other food items. Made me incredibly proud of my big brother that day!

on Oct 25, 2011 at 4:36 PM

PS. He also put her in touch with our church, and they were able to help her get a kitchen table, helped her find childcare so she could get a job and paid her electric bill that month. We still see her occasionally at church, and she is doing great! Just goes to show that if the church and the people would have compassion and take care of the "widows and orphans' like they should, instead of expecting the government to take care of the less fortunate, it would work out a lot better!

meatball77

on Oct 25, 2011 at 4:40 PM

MMMMMM Cheese

douxmusique

on Oct 25, 2011 at 5:01 PM

Hahahahahahahahah I'd steal cheese. Additive substance and all.... Need my crack! Hahahahahahahahah

LucretiaMcEvil

on Oct 25, 2011 at 5:42 PM

Good cheese is expensive. At the grocery store that I shop at, all of the good cheese is by the deli, next to the fruit section.

Some of the gourmet cheeses are over $10 for a few ounces!

I have stolen from stores before, and would do it again if I didn't have a kid.

I've never stolen from a person, but I have stolen from stores.

I believe that stealing from people is 100% wrong in every way. I don't see the big deal in shoplifting cheese, though.

I'm being honest, and I'm sure people are going to bash me and call me names. Oh well.

chigirl1228

on Oct 25, 2011 at 7:00 PM

Oh lucretiamcevil...you kind of an asshole but I love it! Lol

elasmimi

on Oct 25, 2011 at 7:33 PM

I'm glad someone helped this particular mother, because she sounds genuine. But I have seen too much of people selling food stamps and WIC vouchers to be wary.