Italian DOP cheeses confront US 'common name' legislation as market expands

At the Summer Fancy Food Show in New York (June 28‑30), AFIDOP highlighted the growing presence of Italian DOP cheeses in the United States. President Antonio Auricchio said, "the extraordinary vitality of Italian DOP cheeses on the US market" and affirmed the association’s commitment to promote authentic products and combat Italian Sounding.

Meanwhile, the US Senate is advancing a bill that would allow the use of so‑called “common names” for cheeses such as Asiago, Parmesan, Gorgonzola and others. The proposal, introduced in April 2025 and discussed after the International Cheese & Dairy Awards in Stafford, seeks to let US producers label products with these names in foreign markets. Gabriele Arlotti, president of CheeseItaly, warned that "a denomination of origin does not only protect a producer: it protects the consumer's right to know what they purchase," arguing the move threatens the integrity of EU DOP and IGP protections.