Waiter, My Cheese Has Been DOP(ed)

No, it's not the latest performance-enhancing drug scandal at the Giro d'Italia. This DOP(ed) cheese, (Denominazione di Origine Protetta, or Protected Designation of Origin), instead, carries a symbol designed under European Law to protect the names of regional foods. The law protect a wide range of products produced in Europe (and by extension, Italy). Another similar food designation is the IGP (Indicazione Geografica Protetta, or Protected Geographic Indication). To qualify for a DOP or IGP seal, a product must comply with the European Union's standards in regard to the name and description of the production, the definition of the geographic area, the methods of preparation, factors relating to the geographic environment, the inspection bodies, and details of how the product is labeled. Hundreds of Italian food products... [read full story]