As a kid, I was told it was due to rats and other critters getting into the cheese.

I’d then proceed to wonder why no adults thought to throw it out, much less eat the stuff.

It's because of bacterial farts.

TIL that what Americans call "swiss cheese" is what Europeans call Emmental or Emmentaler -- or at least Emmentaler style.

It does not. Swiss cheese does not have holes.

Swiss cheese have holes so the swiss dwarfs can hide in them.

This makes me want to revive my old Curd Collective app.

Another fact about Emmentaler cheese is that it has a relative low salt content compared to other cheeses.

Why does bread have holes?

Swiss army dual uses cheese as target practice?