By Mark O'Keefe
Judges at the World Cheese Awards put only one French cheese in the top 15, a national disgrace one leading newspaper calls a "sacrilege."
Based on a review of global food media coverage, the world is having a difficult time coping with the fact that a cheese from the United States has been bestowed the coveted title of "Best" on the planet.
The news broke October 22, when The World Cheese Awards, held in Bergamo, Italy, named Rogue River Blue -- made by Rogue River Creamery in Central Point, Oregon -- "Best in the World."
It placed No. 1 from a field of 3,804 cheese entries from 42 countries.
It was the first time a cheese from the United States won the coveted top award at the contest some refer to as the "Oscars of Cheese."
Pain and dismay in France
Nowhere has the disbelief been greater than in France.
Sky News reporter Russell Hope summarized the situation in a news article:
"French national pride is on the floor after the country's famous cheeses were snubbed at an international awards ceremony. To make matters worse, a British cheese finished higher in the rankings at the World Cheese Awards, while a US product took the top prize."
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