Italy upset by “fake” Italian sauces in the European Parliament’s supermarket

Italy’s Minister of Agriculture, Francesco Lollobrigida, has called for an immediate investigation after spotting jars of pasta sauce in the European Parliament supermarket whose names, in his view, merely “sound Italian.”

Lollobrigida shared photos on social media of pasta sauces bearing labels that imitate the Italian language and can give the impression they were made in Italy. He was particularly outraged by a carbonara sauce made with “Italian pancetta” — rather than guanciale, which is traditionally used in Italy — and a tomato sauce claiming to use “onions from Calabria.”

“All of these products are the worst example of so-called ‘Italian-sounding’ foods. It is unacceptable to see them on the shelves of the European Parliament supermarket. I have requested an immediate inquiry,” the minister added.

The sauces, sold under a private label, are carried by the Belgian supermarket chain Delhaize and even display the Italian flag on their packaging.

Under EU rules, a food product may be considered misleading if its labeling distorts the true country of origin. Italy has long been battling the huge global market for “Italian-sounding” food products that evoke Italian origin — even when they are not actually made in Italy.

Tags: food, Italy