
Who needs French brie? Britain's best soft cheese to buy now
Stocks of them might be running low as a result; Patricia Michelson, the owner of London's La Fromagerie which specialises in fine continental cheeses, has admitted that 'at the moment, we can't supply all the lovely, soft cow's milk cheeses like Camembert and brie,' and she fears that a misunderstanding of raw-milk cheese will ultimately damage British artisan cheesemakers as well as their French counterparts.
Thankfully, this country produces a whole host of wonderful options for fans of unpasteurised cheese who argue that raw-milk options boast more complex and nuanced flavours, and better display their terroir – many of which are directly inspired by French and Italian cheeses, so you can still get your fix of gooey innards and ripe rinds. Here are some of the best to try.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Independent
4 minutes ago
- The Independent
The genetic factor that could impact a child's future weight, according to experts
A mother's genes could play a role in determining a child's future weight – more so than a father's. Researchers at University College London (UCL) investigated how a parent's weight and genes influence their children's weight and diet from birth to age 17. To make the comparison, researchers used genetic and health data of 2,621 UK families in the Millennium Cohort Study, a UK birth cohort study of individuals born in 2001-2002. The study, published in the journal PLOS Genetics, looked at the BMI of parents and the birthweight of their children. They also looked at the child's diet at ages three, five, seven, 11, 14, and 17. Children's diets were assessed through self-reported records of how often and how much they consumed different food groups, including fruit, vegetables, fast food, and sugary drinks. Researchers then separated the direct effects of inherited genes from the indirect effects of genes that were not inherited. Study authors explained that non-inherited genes can still influence children's outcomes by influencing the development environment, such as conditions in the womb and parenting practices, as these are shaped by parents' genetics. Analysis revealed that while both parents' genetics influence a child's BMI, a mother's BMI continued to affect the child's weight beyond direct genetic inheritance. Researchers suggest this means genetic nurture, where a parent's genes shape the environment they create for their child, might be a big factor in a child's weight. This could be the case if a mother's genes influence her own weight, eating habits, or behaviours during pregnancy, which in turn can affect the child's development and long-term health. Dr Liam Wright, the study's lead author, said: ' Mothers ' genetics appear to play an important role in influencing their child's weight over and above the child's genetics. 'In addition to the genes mums directly pass on, our findings suggest that maternal genetics are instrumental in shaping the environment in which the child develops, therefore indirectly influencing the child's BMI too.' Almost a third of children aged two to 15 were considered to be obese or overweight in 2024, according to NHS data. However, researchers acknowledge BMI is not the most accurate way of measuring body fat, particularly among children, and so supplemented their analysis with several other adiposity-related measures, including fat mass. Dr Wright added: 'This isn't about blaming mothers, rather, supporting families to make a meaningful difference to children's long-term health. Targeted interventions to reduce maternal BMI, particularly during pregnancy, could reduce the intergenerational impacts of obesity."


The Sun
5 minutes ago
- The Sun
Obesity runs in the family – but one parent's genes have more influence on a child's weight, study finds
OBESITY does get passed down through families, but one parent's genes may play a bigger role in children's weight, scientists say. UCL researchers looked at the body mass index (BMI), diet and genetic data of over 2,500 families. They found that kids whose parents were obese were more likely to be obese themselves. But children's weight was more heavily impacted by the genes of a specific parent. A mum's genetics may play a bigger role in determining whether a child becomes overweight than a dad's - even if those genes aren't passed down. Lead author Dr Liam Wright, from the UCL Social Research Institute, said: 'Mothers' genetics appear to play an important role in influencing her child's weight over and above the child's genetics. 'In addition to the genes mums directly pass on, our findings suggest that maternal genetics are instrumental in shaping the environment in which the child develops, therefore indirectly influencing the child's BMI too.' Published in PLOS Genetics, the study analysed genetic and health data from 2,621 UK families. Researchers investigated how parents' BMI and related genes influenced their children's weight and diet from birth to age 17. To do this, the team looked at the kids' weight, BMI, and diet at six key points during childhood and adolescence, at the ages of three, five, seven, 11, 14, and 17. They focused on how these were linked to the parents' BMIs. Children's diets were assessed through self-reported records of how often and how much they consumed different food groups, including fruit, vegetables, fast food, and sugary drinks. The 7 ways you're making your kids fat without knowing it - and why it might be time to bin your By measuring both children's and their parents' genes, the researchers were able to separate how inherited genes affected the kids, versus the indirect effect of genes that were not inherited. Non-inherited genes can still influence children's outcomes by influencing their development environment, researchers explained. For example, conditions that babies are exposed to in the womb and parenting techniques can all be shaped by parents' genes. Researchers found that both parents' BMI was linked to their child's BMI. But a dad's influence could mostly be attributed to direct genetic inheritance. Meanwhile, a child didn't need to inherit their mum's genes for their weight to be influenced by hers. For example, a mum's genes might influence her own weight, eating habits, or behaviours during pregnancy, which in turn affect her child's development and long-term health. This suggests, that genetic nurture - where a parent's genes shape the environment they create for their child - is a big factor in children's weight, researchers said. Dr Wright stressed: 'This isn't about blaming mothers, rather, supporting families to make a meaningful difference to children's long-term health. 'Targeted interventions to reduce maternal BMI, particularly during pregnancy, could reduce the intergenerational impacts of obesity." Childhood obesity is a continuing problem in the UK - as well as other countries - with NHS data from 2024 showing 27 per cent of children aged between two and 15 were either obese or overweight.


The Guardian
43 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Houseplant clinic: why is my mistletoe cactus turning brown?
What's the problem? My mistletoe cactus (Rhipsalis) thrived for more than five years, but recently started to brown, with strands falling off. I repotted it into a slightly larger pot with no drainage holes and a layer of gravel at the bottom, but it continues to decline despite weekly watering. How can I save my plant? Diagnosis Your mistletoe cactus probably isn't getting sufficient hydration. Cautious watering can lead to soil that is superficially damp but remains dry at a deeper level. This often manifests as browning stems, shrivelling and segments dropping off as the plant becomes stressed due to a lack of moisture at the roots. Prescription Repot into a pot with drainage holes, or use a nursery pot inside the decorative pot. Use compost specifically designed for succulents or cacti. After repotting, give it a thorough watering until water flows from the drainage holes. Then, let it dry out somewhat between waterings, typically every one to two weeks. Mistletoe cacti thrive on consistent moisture but detest waterlogged conditions, so good drainage is essential. Prevention Ensure that pots used for succulents and cacti have sufficient drainage holes. Regularly checking soil moisture by touching the soil a few centimetres down helps you accurately judge watering needs. Got a plant dilemma? Email saturday@ with 'Houseplant clinic' in the subject line