Ron Chapple Studios/Thinkstock(ROME) — Italian Parmesan producers are protesting what they call fake versions of the cheese made in the U.S. that are cutting into their livelihood.
Parmesan cheese — the real stuff, that is, labeled Parmigiano Reggiano — is a globally protected Italian brand. It can only be legally produced in and around the city of Parma, following a strict procedure.
But that hasn’t stopped American cheese producers from calling another kind of cheese Parmesan, and even selling kits that claim people can produce it at home in just a few months.
Now, the sale of the so-called Parmesan cheese is outpacing the sale of real Parmesan in the U.S. Italian producers say it’s time for U.S. cheese producers to stop using the Parmesan name.
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