Protected Geographical Status (PGS) is a label that is the result of a series of laws defined by the European Union to protect regional foods by eliminating misleading marketing ploys of non-genuine products that may be inferior in quality and flavor. Subcategories include Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), Protected Geographical Indication(PGI), and Traditional Specialty Guaranteed (TSG). Each European country has their own appropriate seal. Only products that meet the geographical and quality criteria will be awarded protection.
If you see this seal, you know you are getting the real deal. These seals protect the names of cheese, wines, cured meats, olives, fruits as well as additional food products. This means you cannot label cheese Parmigiano-Reggiano or Camembert de Normandie unless it is made in that region and have met the specs for such a designation.
This begs the question, why hasn't the U.S. implemented such a law? The United States does not support such protective practices in regards to foodstuffs. Products are given names like champagne or feta, but are rarely produced in their countries of origin. Moreover, these names are used as a marketing strategy to create a false pretense of quality among consumers. In the end, artisans rely on the taste to sell their superior product.
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