• PraiseTheSoup@lemm.ee
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      3 years ago

      It’s because the use of the name parmigiano reggiano requires that the cheese come from a certain region of Italy (or somewhere in Europe). There’s nothing else special about it. Counterfeit cheese in this case is just the same exact cheese but made elsewhere and likely sold for cheaper.

      Source: I work in cheese and also Wikipedia several months back

      • Akisamb@programming.dev
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        3 years ago

        That’s not exactly true. If you make parmigiano you have to follow pretty strict manufacturing procedures to ensure that the cheeses have the same taste.

        It’s pretty much the same thing as a brand except it’s not produced by one structure but several independent structures. The main advantage is that you know what you are getting.

    • BastingChemina@slrpnk.net
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      3 years ago

      The designation “Parmigiano Reggiano” is a protected designation of origin (PDO) in the European Union.

      It means that to be able to call a cheese “Parmigiano Reggiano” a producer needs to follow a strict set of rules on how to produce the cheese, how to mature it, how the cows are being fed and it has to be manufactured in a specific area in Italy.

      So if someone is making cheese without following the rules and sell it as Parmigiano it would be counterfeit cheese. Just like someone selling lemonade but calling it “Sprite”.

      • lunarul@lemmy.world
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        3 years ago

        And don’t forget the “origin” part. These designations also include being made in a specific region. You could follow all the rules and exact ingredients for Champagne, but if it’s not made in Champagne, France then you can’t call it Champagne. Same for Cognac, etc.

      • dan@upvote.au
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        3 years ago

        Just like someone selling lemonade but calling it “Sprite”.

        In Australia, we actually do use “lemonade” to refer to drinks like Sprite, lol. We don’t really have the American-style non-carbonated lemonade.

        • Gyoza Power@discuss.tchncs.de
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          3 years ago

          You got it backwards. He meant that it’s the same as selling lemonade while trying to pass it as Sprite because of the branding.