Wisconsin In Danger Of Losing Cheese Names

Channel4000.com ^ | August 1, 2003 | Associated Press

[cephalopod]

European Union Wants Parmesan, Gorgonzola

If the World Trade Organization grants a request by the European Union, Wisconsin could lose some famous cheese names.

No more mozzarella. No more Parmesan or Gorgonzola.

Wisconsin state Rep. Mark Green said the proposal would impose geographic copyrights on the names of foods, which share the name of the region or city in which they originate.

The restrictions could go beyond cheese. The name Dijon mustard, for example, could only be used for cheese made in that particular region of France.

What's the chance of the trade organization passing such a request at next month's meeting in Cancun, Mexico?

Green said it's happened before in the mid-1990s when the French requested a similar rule for champagne. That's why American-made champagne is now called sparkling wine.

The congressman said Europeans want to put a dent in U.S. production of many traditionally European cheeses.

[cephalopod]

No comment really. This is just another effect of the EU flexing its new-found muscle and could be a dangerous precedent.

[Calpernia]

You know, *we* really don't *need* globalization.

And it wouldn't take much to become an *industrial* country again.

[raybbr]

I can't wait to go visit Gorgon or Mozza to see where those cheeses are made.

[Vesuvian]

The name Dijon mustard, for example, could only be used for cheese made in that particular region of France.

Dijon mustard is cheese???! :O

Wait till I tell the old Italian cheesemakers I know that they're not making mozzerella any more. But in truth, Parmagiano Reggiano is only from a certain region in Italy for a long time. But then, it's in the name- Parmgiano="From Parma" Mozzerella is technically a cheese made from the milk of a water buffalo. Gee, hope that's not racist ; )

[Lazamataz]

Is Canada in danger of losing moose names?

[NautiNurse]

Anheuser-Busch has been litigating the Czech Republic for years over the name Budweiser beer. A-B has been wanting sole proprietary rights to quash the much better East European beer with the same name.

[lowbridge]

Blessed are the cheesemakers.

[The Radical Capitalist]

"The name Dijon mustard, for example, could only be used for cheese made in that particular region of France."

Where's a copy editor when you need one?

[lepton]

The name Dijon mustard, for example, could only be used for cheese

Yeah. That jumped out at me too.

[southernnorthcarolina]

What a friend we have in cheeses.

[dufekin]

Okay, I'll be buying Packer Cheese, Appleton Cheese, Oshkosh Cheese, Madison Cheese, Kenosha Cheese. I already don't buy anything with a French-sounding name.

What ever happened to country-of-origin labelling to ensure that my food supply isn't tainted by anything French?

[Koblenz]

But Anheuser Busch stole the name Budweiser. So they shouldn't get world wide rights. In the USA, Czech Budvar beer is sold under the label Czechvar.

But this whole names thing that the EU is proposing is just silly. Will American cheese have to come from the states? Buffalo wings from upstate NY? Hamburgers from Hamburg? Frankfurters from Frankfurt? Polish sausages? Chicken Kiev? Bologna? California rolls?

[MaryFromMichigan]

Well, the cheese makers have in curd many expenses...
(LOL at my own cheesy jokes!)

[Vesuvian]

Phew, at least I'm not the only one. Everyone knows everything you read in the papers must be true, right? ; )

[CMailBag]

That one was whey over the line.

[Paleo Conservative]

We should not surrender cheese names to the French.

[Nick Danger]

I dunno, I might like this geographic-naming idea. It would be helpful to me if instead of being able to sell Champagne, Beaujolias, etc. in the U.S., the French had to label all of their stuff "French Wine". White, red, sparkling... who cares? If it's from France, it's "French Wine," period.

[mhking]

Just damn.

If you want on the new list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

[Mind-numbed Robot]

The French continue to look silly trying to recapture past glory.

[Caipirabob]

We need to stop this in it's tracks!

Do the world a favor - Bite a member of the E.U. today!