Posted on 03/04/2014 3:03:59 PM PST by Theoria
What's in a name? It's an age-old question Juliet once asked Romeo in Shakespeare's famed play.
Today, it's a serious question between the U.S. and the European Union, which has said it wants U.S. food makers to stop using European names.
But depending on what food you're talking about, a name could be a lot, says Kyle Cherek, the producer and host of a TV show called Wisconsin Foodie.
Cherek argues that certain products are so unique that only one country or region should be allowed to lay claim. So, for example, he says only onions from Vidalia, Ga., should be called American Vidalia, and Lambic beer absolutely has to come from a specific valley in Belgium.
"Roquefort, of course, has to come from that region" of France, he adds, because there's a distinctive fungus that gives the cheese its flavor.
But not everything fits into that category. Take, for instance, cheddar cheese which is big business in Wisconsin.
"They simply can't legislate that into a region," Cherek says. "Cheddar is made in Australia, in the U.S., in Canada. It's made in probably seven or eight countries."
And therein lies the problem.
As part of negotiations over the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, the European Union wants the U.S. to prohibit food makers here from using names with historical ties to Europe.
That means popular cheeses like Gruyere, Brie and Parmesan could all be in line for a name change, thanks to the EU's proposed restrictions. The problem, says Steve Stettler, who owns Decatur Dairy in Brodhead, Wis., is that U.S. food makers have spent a lot of money building their brands.
"How do we educate our consumers? People have spent a great deal of money on labeling, building traditions, building a name on a product," Stettler says.
(Excerpt) Read more at npr.org ...
Ok, sure. So those dubya dubya one and dubya dubya two checks are in the mail, right?
We should really call “French Fries” “Weasel Sticks”....
I like cheese.
But I don’t like cheese eating surrender monkeys telling me what I can and cannot call my cheese.
So what about “Frog”?
Arguing over food names while Obama bankrupts America, North Korea and Iran stockpile nukes, and Russia invades Ukraine and seizes Crimea.....
What’s wrong with this picture?
These people are so ridiculous. Maybe we should just stop buying it, too.
No cheese.
These treaties all have bilateral benefits. We don't want Greece to sell wines labelled "Napa" or onions labelled "Vidalia," especially if they're shipping them to Latin America.
Freedom Fries it is, then....meanwhile King Vlad of greater Russia is eating caviar while reading those EU inspired Obama red line memos and LOLing. It’s good to be the King.
Ok Euroweenies then stop using...MCDonald’s, Twitter, Microsoft Office, Google, Apple, Iphone, wifi, Instagram etc etc. Those are American products so come up with your own sissy alternate names..
“We should really call French Fries Weasel Sticks....”
Oh no! However shall we order our french toast, english muffins, or spanish rice?
Don’t they also have the name “champagne” locked up. If it is labeled champagne it has to come from the champagne region of France. Otherwise, it is sparkling wine.
What do you expect? These are people that have laws about how bent a banana can be.
Now Chef Boy-Ar-Dee with improved Parr-auh-zan.
Look Mooch! An illegal banana!
...the European Union wants the U.S. to prohibit food makers here from using names with historical ties to Europe.As the old saying go, and people in Hell want ice water. Thanks Theoria. From the FRchives:
Maybe I can patent my toes.
What is the unit of curvature? The "Clinton"?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.