WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today introduced the bipartisan CURD (Codifying Useful Regulatory Definitions) Act to help better inform consumers’ cheese purchasing decisions. The CURD Act would codify a formal definition of “natural cheese”, a term commonly used on food packaging that currently has no official definition.

“Wisconsin is known for its cheese, in all its forms and varieties,” Sen. Johnson said. “Codifying the definition of ‘natural cheese’ will allow consumers the necessary information to make informed decisions when purchasing and enjoying the great products of our state.”

“Oregonians know full well that our state’s high-quality cheese has earned well-deserved national and international renown for both taste and quality,” Sen. Wyden said. “This bill will make sure that cheese consumers nationwide have all the information they need to understand what they’re buying at their local supermarket.”

Under the CURD Act, “natural cheese” would be defined as cheese that is produced from animal milk or other dairy ingredients and is produced in accordance with established cheese-making practices.

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