EU wants to ban European names for American cheese
12 Mar 2014
The EU is pushing for a ban on European names for American-made cheese, on grounds of superiority the European stuff.
According to the Associated Press, when European names like Parmesan, feta, and Gorgonzola were used to label American cheese, they took away a slice of European identity, not to mention sales.
The EU contends that certain cheeses could only earn their names if they were made in the location denoted by their names, for instance, Parmesan should only come from Parma, Italy, while feta cheese should only be from Greece.
Though Feta is not a place, it is so closely linked to Greek culture that the EU wanted to protect it, seeking a way to boost profits through promotion of national identity.
Other foods that could end up on the EU hit list include Bologna, Black Forest ham, Greek yogurt, Valencia oranges, and prosciutto.
