Why do none of the smilies have a thinking cap? Why, why, why?(The ninja, he is cute though.)
Isn't there value in only using the Reggiano name for that which comes from that region? Or aceto balsamic tradizionale?
It is important to know where you food comes from, and what sort of provenance it has, for lack of a better term. I considered that part of being an informed consumer, but when it comes to the point where you can only call something parmigiana or balsamic if it's produced in a certain region, it's going to far. I don't object to consumers being informed, I object to a common food term being denied to other producers and consumers. If you're making the exact same product in the same way, but you're not allowed to use the word because you're not in the right country? I consider that wrong.
This isn't even touching on what the burdens of cost that must be to created to appease the breaucracy that's being set up to to award the designations for tradition food products in the EU. The costs of forms, permits, and equipment to receive these designations can't be cheap. How many people are not bothering to do this? Who is the world missing, because they don't want or can't afford to do this?
Also, these are products that have been created and refined over generations. If we freeze the process at this stage in it's developement, what is not going to be created? What's not going to happen because the rules say it can only be made this way, with these ingredients, in this region? What next small refinement, or great leap are we going to miss?
Of course I suppose H. J. Heinz and Coca Cola, among others, would have an opinion on this, too.
Depends, has Heinz ever tried to stop other producers from using the term ketchup? Have they ever tried to claim that ketchup can only be produced in the United States? Or that only certain tomatoes grown in certain soils can be used to make ketchup? Has the US gov't ever tried to do any of this on behalf of Heinz?
For me, this all comes down to my objection to language being narrowed. Yes, protecting the original products is good, and should be done. Standardizing the product can be useful as well. But, denying others the language to describe and name their own products is bad and stifling.
I got entirely too long winded replying to this, and I pinged all over with my objections to the issue. I am sorry about that.