Abstract: A method for removing a plastics coating from a block of food, in particular a whole cheese, operates with the following steps: the block of food, in particular the whole cheese with its plastics coating is fed to the method. A laser beam is then directed onto the plastics coating of the block of food. Herein the output of the laser which emits the laser beam is adjusted so that a removal of the plastics coating takes place by separation of a region of the plastics coating and/or by erosion or vaporisation of the plastics coating. A device for removing a plastics coating from a block of food, in particular a whole cheese, comprises a transport apparatus for the block of food and a laser apparatus for applying a laser beam to the block of food.