Cancel Culture Having A Meltdown Over Cheese

Dear Ms. Liberty,

Remember the 2015 Plain Red Cup" scandal when some so-called preacher, looking for his 15 minutes of fame, got the evangelical followers all riled up, accusing Starbucks of waging a "war on Christmas" and trying to remove Christ from the holiday season. This was Starbucks' first year releasing a solid red holiday cup, which they described as their "blank canvas," instead of the usual snowflakes, reindeer, or tree ornaments adorning their cardboard coffee cups. 
To sum it up logically, it's not as if Starbucks had previously put an image of Baby Jesus on the cardboard coffee cups and later removed him. 

Well, the same kind of misinformed yet hate-filled, purposeful mass hysteria is happening once again with another popular West Coast-based company, but this one makes cheese. 

If you lived in or visited Oregon, and even if you live in Washington State, you have enjoyed the creamy, rich deliciousness of Tillamook cheeses, ice cream, and other dairy products. Tillamook is located on the popular West Coast Highway 101 in the beach town of Tillamook, Oregon. It is farmer-owned and has been making cheese since 1909. Almost 100 years later, their popularity now spans the USA through Costco and other national and regional grocery chains. 

The same misguided outrage that brought you shrieks, spitting, and stamping of little tiny feet over a holiday red cup is now bringing you ignorance and racist outrage over cheese. Someone read the back of Tillamook products and noticed the Kosher and Halal certification symbols. Halal is an Arabic word meaning "permissible" or "lawful" under Islamic law, especially for diet and food. "Kosher" is another certified symbol on the Tillamook products.

A few misguided MAGA fools have been screaming into the void of the internet that they don't want to eat cheese where the cow was slaughtered and then offered to Allah.

Ummm... Tillamook dairy cows are milked to make cheese, ice cream, yogurt, and sour cream. Dairy cows are not slaughtered or sacrificed to make the chocolate bomb favorite of many, Tillamook Mudslide ice cream, or my favorite two-year-aged extra sharp white cheddar.

Note: Not all Tillamook products are Halal or Kosher-certified. Those certified are mostly their main, popular cheeses.  Ice cream, sour cream, and other Tillamook dairy products don't have those certifications. So, no, it is not Al-Qaeda cheese, so stop it. You sound ridiculous.  

We've seen the Kosher symbol on products for years on our grocery shelves, meaning the food carries official rabbinical certification. Halal certification follows practices very similar to Kosher certification: processors submit an application detailing all products, formulas, ingredients, additives, and supplies. The inspector inspects processing facilities and verifies that proper separation, handling, and sanitization protocols keep Halal products separate from any non-Halal products. Kosher also keeps products separate from non-Kosher products. To receive either or both certifications, the processing plant undergoes yearly renewal audits and maintains ongoing compliance. 

Note: If you are concerned about the authenticity of Halal and Kosher products, please research beyond this article, as each certification has more detailed practices. Beyond processing, the two also differ religiously, but the idea of certification is the same. 
One difference is that Kosher does not mix meat and dairy (no cheeseburger for you). Halal does not prohibit combining meat and dairy products (so enjoy a delicious cheeseburger). However, Halal does not permit alcohol, while 
Kosher meals will include kosher wines in their meals and sacraments.

So, the reality of it all? 

In 2016, Tillamook Creamery switched from animal-derived rennet to vegetarian, fermentation-produced rennet, an essential ingredient in making nearly every kind of cheese. This new vegetarian rennet naturally carried Halal and Kosher certifications. No Grand Aytollah has prayed over your cheese.

The thing is, unless you live in a large city near a Muslim neighborhood, like in Michigan, New York, or California, you probably aren't used to seeing Halal certification on foods, but they are there. You know all of those beautiful fresh fruits and vegetables that you see, purchase, and eat? They may not be labeled, but they are all Halal and Kosher-friendly. 

Go ahead and rob yourself of cheese and ice cream that you have been enjoying for years. That just means even more Tillamook Marionberry Pie-flavored ice cream and Tillamook White Cheddar for me. 

Praise cheeses! 
C~