We’re all aware of the strict Italian Denominazione d’Origine Protetta (Protected Designation of Origin) laws for foods. Now, Italian lawmakers are up in arms about a ‘fake’ Carbonara Sauce being marketed across the EU by a Belgian company…
Italian Agriculture Minister, Francesco Lollobrigida, addresses an
agricultural forum in Rome on November 20, 2025.
Carbonara is just one of many classic and unique Italian sauces. It sounds simple enough: a blend of Guanciale (ham) and cheese, mixed with egg yolks and pepper, preferably just moments before serv-ing. Similar to the method prescribed for Alfredo Sauce.
But now, a Belgian company is selling jarred ‘Carbonara’ sauce. And it’s raised hackles at the highest levels of Italian society…
Italy’s agriculture minister, Francesco Lollobrigida, for one, is outraged: “[T]hese products represent the worst of Italian-sounding products,” he posted. “It’s unacceptable to see them on the shelves of the European Parliament supermarket. I’ve asked for an immediate investigation.”
Not a trivial matter…
“The scandal of fake Italian products costs our country 120 billion euros ($138 billion) a year, para-doxically resulting in the biggest counterfeiters of Italian excellence being industrialized countries,” Coldiretti, Italy’s largest said in a statement. “The use of the Italian flag colors, made-up Italian sounding product names and even photos of Italian monuments [on the label] amounts to regula-tory issues, and are misleading representations under European Union regulations. ”
Belgian food producer Delhaize, which makes the disputed sauce, was contacted for comment but did not reply. But it’s reliably reported that the product has been removed from retail shelves across the EU.
What next?
Apart from the investigation – which is going ahead – The Italian government is, “currently trying to have its cuisine recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity product. A de-cision expected in December. And ‘Italian sounding’ foods that are common across the world dilute the authenticity of one of the most important aspects of Italian culture,” Lollobrigida says.
According to CNN Travel, “Last year, Heinz introduced a canned version of ‘spaghetti carbonara’, again with Pancetta instead of guanciale, which drew comparisons to cat food and elicited a barrage of colourful comments.”
My take
You can’t really fault the Italians for their umbrage over counterfeits of their most beloved and class foods. They’re already in the middle of a global war against fake Italian olive oil, Italian cheese, meats and wines, which are also under attack by fraudsters.
Lollobrigida told the Summer Fancy Food Festival in New York this past July: “Our cuisine is simple, but not easy. The sea and the land give us what we need, and thanks to our processors we can count on exceptional product quality.” Which, he says, MUST be protected…
I heartily agree…
~ Maggie J.