The Inspector General’s Department of the Italian Ministry of Agriculture announced today that the world famous Harrods department store in London had removed from its shelves a lot of olive oil which falsely claimed to be made in Italy.
The swift cross-border action was allowed by EU rules in force.
Frauds related to the fake attribution of Italian origin to products are widespread all over the world, and their contrast is understandably a priority for any Italian Government.
Even in Italy itself, you can find fake domestic products. Checks over food and beverages, however, are between the strictest in the world. A specially dedicated branch of the police even exists for this purpose.
A rather iconic Treviso restaurant is apparently shutting down, blaming the recent change in the way Italians eat out and the flagging Italian economy. It’s true, over the past decade or so more American style eat on the go fast-food joints have started dotting the landscape and changing the way Italians (and let’s face it, the Italians ARE the original slow-food movement, making this a particularly unfortunate bit of globalization fallout) take their meals. As a result, traditional restauranteurs are feeling quite the squeeze. (Mama Isa’s take on tiramisu shown here…yes!)
Suffice it to say, on a Sassi Italy Tour you won’t be eating a lot of fast food. Fear not!
I’m always a bit skeptical of “this dish was invented here” stories, as I suspect pastries and desserts and entrees evolve more than get “invented,” but to see this place go is disappointing. Treviso is beautiful, by the way.
Sassi Italy Tours 