Frederic Melton
Parmesan cheese is a highly regarded hard cheese that originated in Italy. The term Parmesan is tightly regulated in Italy, and any cheese designated and sold as such must meet high standards for production. However, in the United States, the term `Parmesan` is not protected, and the standards for Parmesan cheese are much less clear. This has led to a proliferation of fake or imitation Parmesan cheeses in the US market, which are often made with inferior ingredients and produced in countries outside of Italy, such as Argentina. These fake cheeses are typically of lower quality and are often scoffed at by chefs and cheese enthusiasts. To combat the sale of counterfeit Parmesan, the Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium has implemented measures such as using silicon microchips and QR codes on cheese wheels to track the product and identify imposters.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Parmesan |
| Translation | Parmigiano-Reggiano |
| Origin | Parma, Italy |
| Ingredients | Milk, salt, rennet |
| Additives | Benzoyl peroxide |
| Aging | 10 months |
| Fake versions | Kraft 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese, Parmesan Cheese in the US |
| Fake characteristics | Contains cellulose powder, potassium sorbate, and cheese cultures |
| Fake market value | $2 billion per year |
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What You'll Learn
Kraft's Parmesan
Kraft Parmesan is a product of Kraft Heinz, a US-based food company. The product is labelled as "100% grated Parmesan cheese". However, it has been the subject of controversy due to its authenticity as Parmesan cheese, particularly when compared to the traditional Italian Parmigiano-Reggiano.
In Italy, the term "Parmesan" is tightly regulated, and any cheese sold as such must meet stringent production standards. However, in the United States, the term "Parmesan" is not legally regulated, leading to a wide range of products being sold under this label. Kraft Parmesan falls into this category, as it does not meet the strict criteria for traditional Parmigiano-Reggiano.
Kraft Parmesan contains additional ingredients such as cellulose powder, potassium sorbate, and cheese cultures, which are not found in Parmigiano-Reggiano and are, in fact, illegal in its production. Due to this reason, Kraft was legally required to stop selling its product labelled as Parmesan cheese in Europe.
Despite the differences in ingredients and production methods, Kraft Parmesan is still considered a type of "fake" Parmesan cheese that is widely consumed in the United States. It is often used as a topping for pizza, pasta, and salads, and is known for its convenience and affordability. However, it is generally accepted that the taste and quality of Kraft Parmesan are significantly inferior to that of authentic Parmigiano-Reggiano.
While the term "Parmesan" may be loosely applied to various cheese products in the United States, it is important to distinguish between these imitation cheeses and the traditional Italian Parmigiano-Reggiano, which is renowned for its superior taste and quality and strict adherence to production standards.
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Parmesan in the US
In the United States, Parmesan is often grated and used as a topping. However, the term "Parmesan" is not regulated, and the standards for Parmesan cheese in the US are unclear. As a result, the Parmesan cheese that you buy in the US is rarely authentic Parmigiano Reggiano, which is protected by EU law and can only legally be called Parmesan in Europe.
Parmigiano Reggiano is a highly regulated product in Italy, and it can only contain three ingredients: milk produced in the Parma/Reggio region (and less than 20 hours from cow to cheese), salt, and rennet (a natural enzyme from calf intestine). It is also a long-aged cheese, averaging 20 months, and must mature for a minimum of 12 months to be labelled as Parmigiano Reggiano.
In contrast, Parmesan cheese in the United States can be made from milk of any quality, age, or provenance, and there are no aging requirements or other significant requirements. Domestic Parmesan is not even vaguely defined as a particular type or style of cheese. As a result, many products labelled as "Parmesan" in American supermarkets are not actually from Parma and are of a lower standard than Parmigiano Reggiano.
Some examples of imitation Parmesan cheese in the US include Kraft 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese, which contains illegal ingredients such as cellulose powder, potassium sorbate, and cheese cultures. Other similar products sold in the US include Parmesan, Parmigiana, Parmesana, Parmabon, Real Parma, Parmezan, and Parmezano.
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Parmesan's Protected Designation of Origin (PDO)
The term "Parmesan" is the English translation of "Parmigiano Reggiano", a variety of cheese that originated in Italy. In England, consumers are legally guaranteed to receive Parmigiano-Reggiano when they buy Parmesan. However, in the United States, this is not the case. American Parmesan is often of a lower standard and is frequently scoffed at by chefs and industry experts.
Parmigiano-Reggiano is protected by the European Union's Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status. This designation was created in 1992 to preserve the designations of origin of food products. It applies to products that have been produced, processed, and developed in a specific geographical area, using the recognised techniques and ingredients of local producers.
To bear the designation "Parmigiano Reggiano PDO", the cheese must be produced in its area of origin, which includes the provinces of Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena, Mantua to the right of the Po River, and Bologna to the left of the Reno River. This covers a surface area of approximately 10,000 square kilometres. The European Court of Justice has ruled that only cheeses bearing the PDO "Parmigiano Reggiano" can be sold under the denomination "Parmesan".
The PDO system has been likened to the French AOC (Controlled Appellation of Origin) system, which protects the names of regional products and guarantees their reputation. For example, the French AOC system protects the name of Roquefort cheese, which can only be made in the designated region of Roquefort-sur-Soulzon in the French department of Aveyron.
Switzerland, a top European cheese-making country, is not part of the EU and has its own system called AOP (Protected Appellation of Origin). Switzerland's Gruyère cheese has not been able to extend its name protection to the US market, and American cheesemakers are free to call their cheeses Gruyère.
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Parmesan's ingredients
Parmesan cheese, or Parmigiano-Reggiano, is a hard cheese with a nutty, sharp, and salty flavour. It is made from fresh whole milk without any additives and is typically aged for 12 months. The name "Parmesan" is tightly regulated in Italy, and any cheese sold as such must meet high standards for production. However, in the United States, the name "Parmesan" is not protected, and the standards for Parmesan cheese are much less clear. This has led to a proliferation of fake or imitation Parmesan cheeses on the market.
These fake Parmesan cheeses may be produced in the United States or South America, particularly Argentina, and are often sold under similar-sounding names such as Parmesan, Parmigiana, Parmesana, Parmabon, Real Parma, Parmezan, Parmezano, and Permesansan. While these cheeses may be made in a similar style to authentic Parmesan, they do not meet the strict production standards and quality requirements of Parmigiano-Reggiano.
One of the most well-known examples of fake Parmesan cheese is Kraft 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese, which was found to contain illegal ingredients such as cellulose powder, potassium sorbate, and cheese cultures. Cellulose, essentially powdered wood pulp, was also discovered in other store-bought grated Parmesan cheeses, leading to concerns about consumer fraud and food safety.
To ensure that you are purchasing authentic Parmigiano-Reggiano, look for the name "Parmigiano-Reggiano" on the label, as well as the "Made in Italy" designation, and the PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) stamp. Even with these measures in place, however, fake Parmesan cheese remains a significant problem, with the Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium estimating around $2 billion in fake counterfeit sales per year.
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Authenticating real Parmesan
To ensure you're getting authentic Parmesan, look for products labelled "Parmigiano-Reggiano" rather than simply "Parmesan cheese". Parmigiano-Reggiano is made using only three ingredients, including milk from cows raised in specific Italian provinces and fed only food grown in the region. It must be aged for at least a year, but most are aged for two to three years, and sometimes up to 100 months or more.
When shopping for Parmesan, it's best to buy whole pieces that still have a portion of the rind attached. The rind of genuine Parmigiano-Reggiano is embossed with dotted letters spelling out the name of the cheese, the date of production, and the seal of approval of the Consortium. Grated cheese can be adulterated with wood shavings or fillers, so it's best to grate your own from a whole piece.
If you're looking for pre-grated Parmesan, opt for reputable brands like Sartori, BelGioioso, and Arthur Schuman, Inc., which offer high-quality pre-grated Parmesan. Additionally, buying from a specialty cheese shop or the deli department of a grocery store can increase your chances of getting real Parmesan.
To further ensure authenticity, look for specific producer information on the label, such as a farm number or the name of a producer. You can also check the price as a red flag—if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Expect to pay a premium for authentic Parmigiano-Reggiano.
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Frequently asked questions
Fake Parmesan cheese is any product that is labelled as Parmesan but is not made in the Parma region of Italy.
Parmesan is the English translation of the Italian Parmigiano Reggiano, which is tightly regulated and must be made in the Parma region of Italy. Parmesan made outside of Parma is subject to different regulations, aging requirements, and quality standards.
Some examples of fake Parmesan cheese include Kraft 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese, Essential Everyday 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese, and Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s Great Value 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese.
To ensure you are buying authentic Parmigiano Reggiano, check that the label says "Made in Italy" and look for the PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) stamp.
While not necessarily dangerous, some fake Parmesan cheeses have been found to contain non-dairy filler ingredients like wood pulp, cellulose powder, potassium sorbate, and cheese cultures.
