Freedom Cheeze!

Kramodlog · Mar 13, 2014

As part of trade talks, the EU wants to limit the use of names like Parmesan, feta and Gorgonzola on cheese made in the United States. The argument is that the American-made cheeses are shadows of the original European varieties and cut into sales and identity of the European cheeses.
Auricchio, president of Wisconsin-based BelGioioso Cheese Inc., says he has no idea what he would call his Parmesan if he had to find a new name.

Do you have alternative names for Parmesan, feta and Gorgonzola?

Kraft's Parmesan, I easily see it becoming "pasta-cheez", feta "brine cheese" or "brinie", and Gorgonzola "blue blood cheese".

Olgar Shiverstone · Mar 13, 2014

goldomark said:
Do you have alternative names for Parmesan, feta and Gorgonzola?

Nope. Go into any store and find a wide variety of cheeses with the same name; it's up to the consumer to decide which version of "parmesan" (or whatever) they prefer. Cheese snobs (my MIL is one) will swear by certain brands while others just don't care.

Seems a tough ask for the EU -- if those were brand names they could possibly be protected, but forcing a rename of a type of item? I don't see it.

Besides, the Germans and Belgians would have a better case that American beer should be renamed "pee-water" than cheese silliness, but I haven't heard of any initiative in that direction. They choose instead to educate consumers and strengthen their brand identity.

Kramodlog · Mar 13, 2014

Olgar Shiverstone said:
Nope. Go into any store and find a wide variety of cheeses with the same name; it's up to the consumer to decide which version of "parmesan" (or whatever) they prefer. Cheese snobs (my MIL is one) will swear by certain brands while others just don't care.

Seems a tough ask for the EU -- if those were brand names they could possibly be protected, but forcing a rename of a type of item? I don't see it.

Besides, the Germans and Belgians would have a better case that American beer should be renamed "pee-water" than cheese silliness, but I haven't heard of any initiative in that direction. They choose instead to educate consumers and strengthen their brand identity.

People can choose if it is a Parmasan or not? Like people can choose if evolution is real? lmfao

It sort of is a brand, like Champagne. It is a protected designation of origines.

Hand of Evil · Mar 13, 2014

How about CUT-TA :lol:

Olgar Shiverstone · Mar 13, 2014

goldomark said:
People can choose if it is a Parmasan or not? Like people can choose if evolution is real? lmfao

You misunderstand. There are different brands which sell Parmesan cheese -- consumers choose from among the different brands.

A better solution to all this is to define a standard for what makes something Parmesan, or cheddar, or whatever. But that won't happen, because the issue really isn't about quality of cheese.

delericho · Mar 13, 2014

goldomark said:
It sort of is a brand, like Champagne. It is a protected designation of origines.

That's exactly it. The EU have laws that specify that certain foodstuffs have to come from certain regions - to be called Champagne a wine must be produced in that region, Balsamic vinegar must come from Modina, Melton Mowbray pork pies must come from, well, Melton Mowbray, and so on.

Of course, as discussed in that seminal classic "Wayne's World", Americans don't respect the convention and so label all sparkling white wines 'Champagne'.

So, the discussion is over the terms of the upcoming US-EU trade agreement - the EU are pushing for the US to accept those same "Protected Region of Origin" designations as already exist over here. Whether they'll actually get that or not remains to be seen, of course.

Morrus · Mar 13, 2014

delericho said:
That's exactly it. The EU have laws that specify that certain foodstuffs have to come from certain regions - to be called Champagne a wine must be produced in that region, Balsamic vinegar must come from Modina, Melton Mowbray pork pies must come from, well, Melton Mowbray, and so on.

Of course, as discussed in that seminal classic "Wayne's World", Americans don't respect the convention and so label all sparkling white wines 'Champagne'.

So, the discussion is over the terms of the upcoming US-EU trade agreement - the EU are pushing for the US to accept those same "Protected Region of Origin" designations as already exist over here. Whether they'll actually get that or not remains to be seen, of course.

I can't imagine it will. Cheddar is, I guess, the biggest example.

delericho · Mar 13, 2014

Morrus said:
I can't imagine it will. Cheddar is, I guess, the biggest example.

Indeed, Cheddar is now considered generic, so doesn't get protection even in the EU.

Incidentally, the US do have an equivalent restriction, meaning that, for example, Tennessee whiskey can only be produced in that state.

Viking Bastard · Mar 13, 2014

Hah! I am shocked to find out that Cheddar isn't in the US. Over here, "cheddar" means "American cheese".

But we've been going through this over the last ten years because of EFTA. I grew up with gouda, which turns out isn't gouda at all. Turns out it bears little resemblance to actual gouda. Now it's called "góðostur".