Thank you for your comment and interest in the Taste Blog. You make a valid case that is shared by many in addition to the regional producers of these products. I’m sure this debate will continue, and you are absolutely correct that discriminating consumers should seek and purchase authentic GI products if they want to experience the unique qualities of regional products.

Linda Hood, Partner
Editor of The Taste Blog
Taste Advertising, Branding, Packaging

Foods like Parmesan and Bologna refer to where they are made and came from.

Would you want to buy ‘parmesan’ made in China or the US? I think not! When you buy Parmesan, you know it comes from the Parma region of Italy.

Much like Champagne comes from the Champagne region in France, and all else is ‘Sparkling Wine’, so should be with Parmesan.

The consumer is not so un-intelligent as to figure out what is going on, and keeping the names restricted to those regions helps assure the quality and authenticity of the foods.

Swiss cheese in the US is a copy of Emmentaler Cheese from Switzerland, but here they call is Swiss Cheese. That works fine. You want Emmentaler, you need to get the stuff made in that region of Switzerland! (And it tastes better than Swiss cheese!)

Let’ not let Parmesan become a commodity!