Feta

Alarming data emerged for Greece from Eurostat's final data for June's European Union-harmonized consumer price index: Last month Greece recorded the highest monthly increase at 3.3% in prices in the food category not only in the eurozone, but throughout the European Union. In fact, the increase recorded in food prices in June compared to May was even higher than that in Turkey.

Greek authorities and local dairy industries are up against yet another case of feta imitation and the unlicensed use of the name of Greece's most popular cheese.

In the 2020 corporate and social responsibility report of France's Lactalis, the world's leading dairy company, there is a section titled "Authentic Products and Heritage." In this section, the company states, among other things, that it is "committed to maintaining product diversity through the protection of know-how, especially Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) products."

Many basic food and household items cost up to 70% more this year than last February, just before the war broke out in Ukraine, according to Hellenic Statistical Authority data. This is despite the easing of the consumer price index to 7.2% in December.

Given that the “Odyssey” was written in 8th century BC, the origin of feta is indisputably Greek

The most emblematic Greek product, feta cheese is facing a great challenge.

The European Council on Monday adopted a decision on the conclusion of the agreement between the European Union and China on cooperation on and protection of geographical indications (GIs) of 100 products from each side.

The list of 100 EU products includes Greece's feta cheese, Samos wines, Lasithi olive oil, Kalamata olives and Chios masticha, as well as Cyprus' zivania brandy.

The European Union and China agreed on Wednesday to protect 100 European regional food designations in China and 100 Chinese equivalents in the EU to spur trade, particularly of European food and drinks.

The deal will protect the names of such products as cava, Irish whiskey, feta and prosciutto di Parma, as well as China's Pixian bean paste, Anji white tea and Panjin rice.

The Protected Geographical Indications (PGI) agreement signed between the European Union and China on Wednesday will greatly benefit Greek producers, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on a Facebook post, commenting on the agreement that protects foods unique to a particular location.

The European Union (EU) wants Australian companies to stop using names such as "Bulgarian rose oil", "feta" and "gorgonzola" on their product labels. In case the goods manufactured in the country are indicated by some of the protected European names, the companies will have to change them.