These look like the real deal
The Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) is a classification system established by the European Union to protect and promote the names of high-quality agricultural products and foods that are produced, processed, and prepared in specific regions according to traditional methods.
The PGI label protects products that are associated with a specific geographical area but not necessarily produced, processed, and prepared entirely within that region. The link to the geographical origin may be less strict than for PDO, allowing for more flexibility.
The EU has three different quality labels to represent various aspects of product quality and authenticity. To qualify for PDO status, a product must be produced, processed, and prepared in a defined geographical area using traditional techniques.
The GTS label recognizes products that are made using traditional methods or recipes, regardless of their geographical origin. Pizza napolitana is an example of this.
Italy, France, and Spain are the most protective of their regional products, with a total of 744 registered products throughout the three schemes. Italy leads the pack, with 299 protected status foods. Now, let's look at some examples.
Blue Stilton is made from cow's milk and contains Penicillium roqueforti, a type of mold that gives the cheese its distinct blue veins. Blue Stilton has PDO status. For cheese to use the name "Stilton," it must be made in one of these three counties: Derbyshire, Leicestershire, or Nottinghamshire.
Sources: (European Commission) (Gousto) (GOV.UK)
See also: The world's most expensive foods
Queijo São Jorge, or São Jorge cheese, is a traditional Portuguese cheese made from cow's milk, originating from the island of São Jorge in the Azores archipelago. São Jorge cheese was granted PDO status by the European Union in 1996.
Jersey Royal potatoes are a type of potato grown in Jersey. They were awarded PDO status in 1996.
Kalix Löjrom is a type of fish roe harvested from the northern part of the Baltic Sea, specifically around the Kalix region in Sweden. It has held PDO status since 2010.
Cornish clotted cream is made from unpasteurized cow's milk. The milk is slowly heated and then cooled, allowing the cream to rise to the top and form a thick, clotted layer. It was awarded PDO status in 1998.
Rooibos is a herbal tea made from the leaves of the Aspalathus linearis plant, native to the Cederberg region of South Africa. In 2021, the European Commission granted rooibos PDO status.
Pomodoro San Marzano is a type of plum tomato from the Campania region of Italy. It holds PDO status, ensuring that only tomatoes grown in the designated area using traditional methods can be labeled as such.
Prosciutto di Parma is a dry-cured ham produced in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. It is usually thinly sliced and served uncooked. The meat has held PDO status since 1996.
Aceto balsamico tradizionale di Modena, or traditional balsamic vinegar, originates from the Modena region in Emilia-Romagna, Italy. The product holds PDO status.
Pane di Altamura is a traditional, naturally leavened bread made from remilled durum wheat semolina that originates from the town of Altamura in the Puglia region of southern Italy. It was granted PDO status in 2003.
Parmigiano Reggiano is a hard, granular Italian cheese produced from cow's milk and aged at least 12 months. Both Parmigiano Reggiano and "Parmesan" have PDO status.
Pecorino di Filiano is a traditional Italian cheese made from sheep's milk, specifically produced in the Filiano area in the Basilicata region of southern Italy. The cheese obtained PDO status in 1996.
Nocellara del Belice olives are specifically from the Belice Valley in Sicily, Italy. This variety of olive has held PDO status since 1998.
Culatello di Zibello is made from the fillet or loin of the hind leg of a pig. This Italian product is prized for its tender texture and rich, sweet flavor with a slightly nutty and complex taste. Culatello di Zibello holds PDO status.
The Cinta Senese is a breed of domestic pig from the Italian province of Siena, particularly known for its high-quality pork products. The animals have held PDO status since 2006.
Mozzarella is a traditional Italian cheese made from water buffalo milk. It is known for its soft, elastic texture and mild, creamy flavor. It has held PDO status since 1996.
Hailing from Italy, caciocavallo is a stretched-curd cheese made from sheep's or cow's milk. It is one of the oldest known cheeses in the world and has PDO status.
Roquefort, one of the world's most famous blue cheeses, has a tangy taste, crumbly texture, and distinctive veins of blue mold. Roquefort has PDO status and must be produced in the Roquefort-sur-Soulzon region in France, specifically within the natural caves of Combalou in the south of France.
Feta cheese is a Greek brined white cheese made from sheep's milk. It has held PDO status since 2002.
Kalamata olives are named after the city of Kalamata in southern Peloponnese, Greece. The olives have PDO status, so the name can only be used for olives (and olive oil) from the region around Kalamata.
Halloumi is a brined sheep's cheese that is thought to have originated in Cyprus. Halloumi has PDO status.
Comté, or Gruyère de Comté, is a French cheese made from unpasteurized cow's milk. Comté holds PDO status, so it must be produced, processed, and prepared according to specific standards within the Franche-Comté region.
Bayonne ham is a cured ham that takes its name from the ancient port city of Bayonne in the southwest of France. It has PGI status.
Camembert de Normandie is a cow's-milk cheese from Normandy, France. It has PDO status.
Did you know feta cheese can only be called "feta" if it is made in specific regions of Greece? If you're asking why that is, it's because of a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status granted by the European Union in 2002. And feta isn't the only product with this status—hundreds of food and drink items are protected under the PDO designation.
But what is a PDO, exactly, and which foods fall into this category? If you're itching to find out, click through this gallery now!
Products with Protected Designation of Origin status you need to try
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Did you know feta cheese can only be called "feta" if it is made in specific regions of Greece? If you're asking why that is, it's because of a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status granted by the European Union in 2002. And feta isn't the only product with this status—hundreds of food and drink items are protected under the PDO designation.
But what is a PDO, exactly, and which foods fall into this category? If you're itching to find out, click through this gallery now!