Italy Protests ‘Italian-Sounding’ Food Sales in EU Parliament
Brussels – Italy has formally protested the sale of food products marketed with deliberately misleading “Italian-sounding” branding within the European Parliament’s store, a move highlighting a long-running battle against the counterfeiting of Italian agricultural goods. The complaint centers on pasta sauces and other items that evoke Italian culinary tradition without being produced in Italy.
The protest comes as Italy seeks UNESCO recognition for its customary pasta-making techniques, a decision expected in early December. Simultaneously, Italy’s leading agricultural association, Coldiretti, reports that the “scandal of fake Italian products” costs the nation €120bn (£106bn) annually. Coldiretti asserts that over two-thirds of Italian agrifood products sold globally are imitations – lacking any production or employment connection to Italy – with the United States identified as the largest perpetrator of this “Italian sounding” phenomenon.
The association also actively campaigns against the use of mafia-related terminology to brand food and beverage products internationally, citing examples like “Cosa Nostra” whisky and “Chilli Mafia” hot sauces.
