Food Theory: Why is the Government Hiding 1.4 BILLION Pounds of Cheese?

Summary

This video script explores the sensational claim that the US government stores 1.4 billion pounds of cheese in a Missouri cave. Debunking clickbait, it reveals the cheese is in a regular storage facility, not a government vault. The script delves into the history of US dairy subsidies, explaining how an economic recession led to a cheese surplus in the 1970s. It clarifies that today's surplus is part of normal food industry operations and not a government stockpile, offering insights into cheese production and consumption.

Takeaways

• 🧀 The headline 'Why does the US government have 1.4 billion pounds of cheese stored in a cave?' went viral in February 2022, and sounded both insane and specific, prompting further investigation.
• 🕵️ The concept of a cheese cave is real, and cheese has been stored in cool underground spaces for centuries to keep it fresh without costly refrigeration.
• 🏢 The cheese cave in Springfield, Missouri is actually a commercial warehouse owned by a leasing company, Springfield Underground, rather than a specialized government facility.
• 📊 The 1.4 billion pounds of cheese mentioned in the story is not government-owned surplus but rather cheese stored by private companies like Kraft, waiting to be distributed to grocery stores.
• 🧪 The origin of the 'cheese surplus' dates back to the 1970s when the U.S. government subsidized dairy production, which led to overproduction and surplus milk, later turned into cheese.
• 🏛️ In the 1980s, the government distributed the surplus cheese through a program aimed at assisting low-income Americans, which led to the term 'government cheese'.
• 🍞 The government cheese was not high-quality and had a rubbery texture, often used only in simple dishes like macaroni and cheese or grilled cheese sandwiches.
• 🧀 The U.S. is no longer in the business of stockpiling cheese, having ended government cheese storage in the 1990s. The current cheese surplus is held by private food companies.
• 📉 Cheese surpluses are common due to seasonal production peaks and holiday consumption, making storage necessary to balance supply and demand throughout the year.
• 📰 The story about cheese caves is mostly clickbait, and it is important to be cautious with sensational headlines, as they often only reveal part of a more mundane story.

Q & A

Why does the US government have 1.4 billion pounds of cheese stored in a cave under Springfield, Missouri?

The cheese is stored in underground caves because they provide an ideal environment for preserving and aging cheese. However, this is not a special government storage; it’s a commercial food warehouse owned by a leasing company called Springfield Underground, and a large portion of the stored cheese belongs to private companies like Kraft.

What was the origin of the cheese stockpile in the US?

The cheese surplus began in the 1970s when the US government subsidized the dairy industry to help stabilize milk prices during an economic recession. This led to overproduction of milk, which the government purchased and processed into cheese, creating a large surplus.

Why did the US government start buying up milk in the 1970s?

In the late 1970s, under President Jimmy Carter, the government began buying milk to support the struggling dairy industry. The goal was to increase milk production to lower prices, but this resulted in a milk surplus, which was converted into cheese to prevent spoilage.

Is the US government still in the business of storing cheese?

No, the US government is no longer storing cheese like it did in the past. The government stopped managing large cheese stockpiles in the 1990s, though it continues to subsidize the dairy industry and occasionally buys surplus cheese to support food banks.

What led to the phrase 'government cheese'?

The phrase 'government cheese' originated in the 1980s when the US government began distributing surplus cheese from its stockpiles to welfare recipients and food assistance programs. It became associated with economic hardship and assistance programs.

Is the 1.4 billion pounds of cheese still from the 1980s government stockpile?

No, the current 1.4 billion pounds of cheese is not related to the 1980s government stockpile. It is the total amount of cheese stored in commercial warehouses across the country by food companies like Kraft, Nestlé, and Land O’Lakes, awaiting distribution to grocery stores.

Why do cheese companies store such large amounts of cheese?

Cheese companies store large amounts of cheese to account for seasonal production cycles. Dairy production peaks in the spring, while demand is highest during the holidays. The surplus is stored to meet consumer needs during these peak times.

What is the role of the Springfield Underground warehouse in this story?

The Springfield Underground warehouse is a commercial food storage facility where companies like Kraft lease space to store large quantities of food products, including cheese. It is not a government-owned facility, as some stories might suggest.

Is there anything mysterious or suspicious about the cheese surplus?

No, there is nothing particularly mysterious or suspicious about the cheese surplus. It’s simply part of regular commercial operations where food companies store products like cheese while waiting for them to be distributed to retailers.

What lessons can be learned from the 1970s cheese surplus issue?

One key lesson is that government intervention in agricultural markets, like the dairy subsidies of the 1970s, can lead to unintended consequences like massive surpluses. Monitoring supply and demand cycles closely can help prevent similar issues from happening in the future.