Cheese fly

Common card · No. 302335

The cheese fly, cheese skipper, or ham skipper (Piophila casei) is a species of fly from the family Piophilidae whose larvae are known to infest cured meats, smoked or salted fish, cheeses and carrion. On the Mediterranean island of Sardinia, the larvae are intentionally introduced into pecorino sardo cheese to produce the characteristic casu martzu. If consumed by humans, the larvae have a chance to survive in the intestine, causing enteric pseudomyiasis, though no such cases have been linked to casu martzu dishes. The larvae may also carry harmful microorganisms that, when consumed, could cause infections.

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