EU full of Picky Eaters

[GePap]

Originally posted by The Mad Monk
Here's something for the purists to consider...

Imagine that this goes through, and only Greek Feta is able to bear the name.

What happens when all the proles who previously couldn't tell Danish and Greek Feta apart read "Feta" on their shopping lists?

They run out of the supermarket crying? Their heads explode?

That wouldn;t be much of an issue: if they couldn;t teel the difference before, they will just buy the Feta there is and be happy.

[The Mad Monk]

Exactly.

Given that there is a finite capacity for supplying real Greek Feta, what happens then?

[Dinner]

Originally posted by The Mad Monk
Exactly.

Given that there is a finite capacity for supplying real Greek Feta, what happens then?

That's been the motivating factor for the EU in all of these cases.

[GePap]

Originally posted by Oerdin
None, and I do mean none, of the frivalous cases the EU is bringing up now have been legally defended ever before recently. During the centuries they were not defended they entered the language and now it is like trying to copy right the word "door" or "car".

You are taking it a bit far: Parma is NOT a common word: when is the last time you used "Parma" in any discussion prior to this thread? Place name nouns are not the same as common nouns describing objects: the number of Parma's is limited, and it is false advertising for exampel to go to cali and sell "Once in a lifetime trips to Paris!!" and fail to mention you meant Paris, Texas, not Paris, France. In this way, it is also different form using the example of Xeroxm which begun as a company name, which then got warped.

[GePap]

Originally posted by The Mad Monk
Exactly.

Given that there is a finite capacity for supplying real Greek Feta, what happens then?

$$$$$$$$$$$

got to get me into the feta business.

[The Mad Monk]

Parmasean Cheese.

[The Mad Monk]

You are showing exceptional perception, my students.

[GePap]

Originally posted by The Mad Monk
Parmasean Cheese.

Petty nitpicking (and how many people know this is the adjective for something from Parma?Honeslty, I never made the connection until this thread, and I am a rather heavy user of said cheese).

[The Mad Monk]

I believe that Parmasean cheese is targeted along with the ham.

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by The Mad Monk
You mean Danish Feta isn't being labeled as Danish?

No. Feta isn't labeled by its place of origin. Andone has to be cautious not to be fooled into believing the package of a cow-milk feta with goat-milk (packages always show shepherds and goats, you have to read the small-font content to see if there is actually goat milk or not)

[Harovan]

Originally posted by Oerdin
Again. I don't believe this is correct and he is why. Rolex watches are a brand of watch which the maker has exclusive rights to due to the name Rolex being a registared trade mark which the owner has continously defended since it's inception. Trying to copy right a word like "feta" is like trying to copy right the word "watch"; no matter how much you wish it were so it is not legal. It is incorrect to take a common word and to try to claim exclusive rights for that word.

I grant you this one, the feta argument is really stupid. I said so before in this thread. But the others, like Champagne, Parma ham and alike bear region names and remain valid.

[Dinner]

Gepap: I was going to say Parmasian cheese too. In any event the EU is now seeking to squat on all sorts of different common words which are also place names.

Think of it. A thousand different cheeses (Parmasian, Chedder, feta), most of the wines (Champagne, Chianti), most of the beer styles (Pilsner, Dortmunder) and many ways of preparing meat are all named after place names. They are trying to take these phrases and descriptions out of the common language and make them mean only products they make claiming this will help avoid consumer confusion.

The exact opposite is true though; it will create more consumer confusion and will prevent consumers from making comparasions between like products. This legislation is custom designed to confuse consumers and to line the pockets of a few European producers.

[GePap]

Originally posted by The Mad Monk
I believe that Parmasean cheese is targeted along with the ham.

Hmmm..why sin;t it parma cheese?

I don;t think I have ever bought Parmesan cheese from Parma Italy, nor have I ever seen it in my supermarket, or even in fancy food shops in this city. I might have to go to the Cheese Store to find some.

[Dinner]

Originally posted by Spiffor
No. Feta isn't labeled by its place of origin.

Then they should be labeled so as to prevent confusion.

[The Mad Monk]

Originally posted by Spiffor

No. Feta isn't labeled by its place of origin. Andone has to be cautious not to be fooled into believing the package of a cow-milk feta with goat-milk (packages always show shepherds and goats, you have to read the small-font content to see if there is actually goat milk or not)

We have consumer-protection (aka "truth in advertising") laws that prevent those kinds of shenanigans. All imported food products here must be clear on nation of origin. Trying to mislead in that way here tends to make for quick lawyer-bait.

As an aside, when I shop for cheddar cheese, the manufacturers always note that it's a Vermont cheddar or a New York cheddar, if it comes from either of those states. It's not a requirement -- it's a marketing point.