Hello, I'm an expert in the field of food science and safety. When it comes to cheese, smell is a significant aspect of its quality and character. Not all smells indicate that cheese is bad. In fact, many cheeses are intentionally aged to develop strong and pungent aromas, which are considered desirable by many cheese connoisseurs.

However, there are certain smells that can signal that a cheese has gone bad. A cheese might develop an off smell if it has been contaminated with harmful bacteria or if it has been stored improperly. Here are some signs to look out for:


1. Sulphur or rotten egg smell: This could indicate the presence of bacteria that produce hydrogen sulphide, which is not safe to eat.

2. Acute ammonia or cleaning product smell: This might suggest that the cheese has been contaminated with bacteria that produce ammonia, which is also unsafe.

3. Unusually strong or sour smell: While many cheeses have a strong smell, if the odor is excessively pungent or sour, it could be a sign of spoilage.

4. Visible mold: Some cheeses are safe to eat with a little bit of mold on the rind, but if the mold is green, black, or has penetrated deep into the cheese, it's best to discard the cheese.

If you're unsure about the smell of your cheese, it's always safer to err on the side of caution and not consume it.

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Cheese: It smells like sour milk. ... If you spot mold on a hard cheese, it's generally safe to cut off the moldy part and eat the rest, since the spores likely will not have spread throughout the cheese. Another sign that a cheese has gone bad is a smell or taste of spoiled, sour milk.read more >>