Casu marzu (also called casu modde, casu cundhídu, or in Italian formaggio marcio) is

a cheese found in Sardina, Italy notable for being riddled with live insect larvae. Casu

marzumeans “rotten cheese” in Sardinia and is known colloquially as maggot cheese.

Derived from Pecorino Sardo, casu marzu goes beyond typical fermentation to a stage

most would consider decomposition brought about by the digestive action of the larvae

of the cheese fly Piophila casei. These larvae are deliberately introduced to the cheese,

promoting an advanced level of fermentation and breaking down of the cheese’s fats. The

texture of the cheese becomes very soft, with some liquid (called lagrima, from the

Sardinian for “tears” seeping out. The larvae themselves appear as translucent white worms,

about 8 mm (1/3 inch) long. When disturbed, the larvae can jump for distances up to 15 cm

(6 inches), prompting recommendations of eye protection for those eating the cheese.

Some people clear the larvae from the cheese before consuming; others do not.

What the hell is it?
Casu Marzu is a sheep’s milk cheese that has been deliberately infested by a Piophila casei, the

“cheese fly.” The result is a maggot-ridden, weeping stink bomb in an advanced state of

decomposition. Its translucent larvae are able to jump about 6 inches into the air, making this the

only cheese thatrequires eye protection while eating. The taste is strong enough to burn the tongue,

and the larvaethemselves pass through the stomach undigested, sometimes surviving long enough to

breed in theintestine, where they attempt to bore through the walls, causing vomiting and bloody

diarrhea.

Wait, it gets worse …
This cheese is a delicacy in Sardinia , where it is illegal. That’s right. It is illegal in the only

place where people actually want to eat it. If this does not communicate a very clear message,

perhaps the larvae will, as they leap desperately toward your face in an effort to escape the

putrescent horror of the only home they have ever known. Even the cheese itself is ashamed;

when prodded, it weeps an odorous liquid called lagrima, Sardinian for “tears.”

Danger of this turning up in America :
There is significant danger here, as we’re thinking the cheese companies have a lot of maggot

stock in the back of their warehouse they’d like to get rid of. And, there may actually be a

market for it. Self-loathing is a powerful force in this economy (see the diet section of your

local supermarket) and there’ times you get low enough that, damn it, you feel like you deserve

nothing better than infested cheese.