Fear of cheese (turophobia)

Turophobia is a fear of cheese. It can mean picking cheese off meals, avoiding pizza nights or cheese boards, or feeling uneasy at the smell of cheese in a shop or fridge.

About this phobia

The name comes from the Greek tyros, meaning cheese, and it is an uncommon term that shows up mostly on lists and in light-hearted articles. For many people the reaction is closer to strong disgust than fear, often focused on smell or texture. It is different from a dairy allergy or intolerance, which are medical issues.

What it feels like

• Strong disgust or gagging at the smell of certain cheeses
• Checking menus or asking about ingredients to avoid any cheese
• Discomfort when cheese touches other food on the plate

Explore more unusual fears in the rare phobias A to Z, or browse the common phobias.

Common questions

Is it fussy eating or a real phobia?

A dislike of cheese is common and harmless. It may be a phobia if the reaction involves panic, or if avoiding cheese affects social life or eating out. If it means eating much less or losing weight, speak to a GP.

How can you help?

I use hypnotherapy and NLP to change how your mind responds to the thing you fear, so the old alarm stops going off. Sessions are one to one over Zoom, and you get a recording of the hypnosis to listen to afterwards.

How many sessions will I need?

Many clients notice a real difference after one 90 minute session. If the fear goes back a long way, three sessions gives us room to make the change stick.

Ready to start?

Book a £49 consultation call and we’ll talk through your fear, or take the free suitability test first.

See all session options and prices