A little wonder, every day
Is cheese the most stolen item?
1 / 2
AI-generated cheese still life, not a depiction of theft. Origin: OpenAI image generation, 2026-10-25.
Listen to fact0:00 / —
Cheese has appeared frequently on lists of shoplifted goods, but “most stolen” depends on country, year, and survey method. A 2011 study ranked cheese as the most stolen food item in a sample spanning 43 countries. More recent surveys also name meat, alcohol, and confectionery among leading targets.