Is it real Parmigiano Reggiano or a fake?

All over the world there are several representations of the italian traditional agrifood products: food made and packaged in a very similar way to the real italian ones.

Quality, taste and making process are completely different even if consumers are not always aware of the difference.

Actually the imitation market is becoming a real threat for the italian entrepreneurs. Two of the most affected products are Parmigiano, one of the most imitated cheese in the word and Grana Padano. Paradoxically, in foreign countries, the imitations are sold more than the original ones.

It might seem absurd but in american supermarkets just 1% of the consumed italian cheese is actually related with the tricolor country.

This situation doesn’t concern only America, in fact there are different foreign countries where fake food is sold as italian traditional products such as: “Parmessano” in Colombia, “Reggianto” in Vietnam, “Parmezza” in Poland. It’s a World Tour, a tour through imitations and simulations, made by Consorzio Italiano del Parmigiano Reggiano (the Italian consortium of Parmesan cheese). A tour concerning the protection of the protected designation of origin products (PDO products).

The resulti s clear: more than thirty legal actions and reports which led to authority intervention by eight European countries. Parmigiano reggiano imitations represent a real fraud both for consumers and producers but unfortunately there are no laws which allow each country to drastically react in order to protect the protected designation of origin (PDO).

USA are on top of the list in producing “Parmigiano Reggiano” imitations, with five formal notices for companies which produced sauces, cheeses, ready meals or packets of grated cheese misleadingly inspired by Parmigiano Reggiano.

The second place goes to Vietnam where the fake cheese is called “Reggianto” or “Parmesan” (designation exclusively used by the consortium) or even “Parmigiano Reggiano” preceded by the name of the producer.

Reggianito Cheese

Actually in Vietnam there is an unusual quantity of imitations, probably connected to the increasing attention to our product. Several oppositions have been noticed against theese evocative brands in Japan, Argentina, Bolivia, China, France, Germany, Irland, the Netherlands, Great Britain, Spain and Sweden. The PDO safety is still an important issue in every country.

Planning a holiday in Italy is the best way to taste the real flavor of our italian products.