The company said it had still paid Hafod, Westcombe and Pitchfork, the cheese makers, so they would not have to bear the cost “despite the significant financial hit”.

Neal’s Yard Dairy has called on cheesemongers worldwide to contact them if they suspect they have been offered or sold the stolen cheese, particularly cloth-bound cheddars in 10kg or 24kg format with the labels detached.

Tom Calver, director of Westcombe Dairy, produced some of the stolen cheese and said he was “very upset” when he heard the news.

Calver, 42, was worried about the implications of the theft.

“It’s a huge, very difficult loss,” he said.

Neal’s Yard said it is working with police to identify the perpetrators.

“Is it ridiculous – of all the things in the world to steal – 22 tons of cheese?” Calver said.

“What it shows, what I’m amazed at, is the value people place on these amazing artisan foods.”

Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has asked his social media followers to beware because “a truck load of fancy cheese” is being sold “on the cheap”.

He told his 10.5 million followers: “It was a cheese robbery. Some of the best cheddar in the world has been stolen.”

Oliver described it as a “real shame”, adding: “If anyone hears anything about fancy cheese going cheap, it’s probably a bug.”

His post said the cheese was worth £300,000 ($647,000).

“Are they going to peel it off the canvas, cut it up and hack it up and get rid of it in the fast food industry, in the commercial industry? I don’t know – it seems like a really weird thing to nick him.”

Calver’s Westcombe Cheddar is aged between 12 and 18 months and he said the stolen cheese was made 15 months ago.