Food producers and organizations from multiple countries have launched the Consortium for Common Food Names to stop efforts to restrict the use of generic food names, including such efforts by the European Commission.
According to a press release, the consortium says it opposes any attempt to monopolize generic names (including those of dairy foods) that have become part of the public domain, such as parmesan, feta, provolone, bologna, salami and many others. The consortium will seek to foster the adoption of an appropriate model that protects legitimate geographical indications (or GIs) like “Parmigiano Reggiano” while preserving the right of all producers to use common names like “parmesan.” It says it is not opposed to proper GIs like Camembert de Normandie cheese from France, and adds that products from other parts of the world – such as Washington State Apples or Thai Jasmine Rice – may also benefit from similar protection.