Pasta, love and pride of Italian cuisine. But where does the wheat come from?, where are spaghetti, rigatoni, conchiglie & c, glorious protagonists of local recipes? From our beautiful country? Or from unknown distant places?
Clarity on the country of origin: that's what asks 96% of consumers, according to the latest consultation of the Ministries of Agriculture. And that's what they will get, since a new decree provides that theindication of origin of the main ingredient it is not mandatory only for pasta (wheat) and rice, but for all foods, From hamburgers to fruit juices, from cold cuts to jams.
For a year already, the experimentationobligation to indicate onlabel of all dry pasta and rice marketed in Italy, the place of production of wheat and wheat rice.
As for pasta, the "country of wheat cultivation" and the "country of milling", ie where the semolina was produced, must be indicated on the label. If the cultivation / milling took place in a single country for at least – only … – 50%, this country is indicated and its membership in the European Union or not. For example: "Italy and other EU countries". Otherwise we read for example "EU and non-EU countries".
The introduction of the origin of wheat on pasta labels had "disruptive effects on the wheat imports from Canada with a drastic drop of 75% in the last year"- said Ettore Prandini, president of Coldiretti, the leading Italian agricultural association. Coldiretti has led a long battle against foreign wheat, accused of often arriving in our country already old and at risk of containing substances toxic to our body. Pointing the finger in particular on controls in foreign crops compared to the use of pesticides. Glyphosate, the most used in the world, is for example massively used in many producing countries, starting from Canada. In Italy for a couple of years its use has been severely restricted, but we can not say elimnitao (in addition to everything, you can easily buy online).
As for rice, the "Country of cultivation", the "Country of processing" and the "Country of packaging" are indicated on the label. If you find written "Origin of rice" and the name of only one country, it means that everything – cultivation, processing, packaging – took place in that country.
A similar provision had already been taken in 2016 with regard to dairy products, forcing the indication of the "milking country" and the "country of packaging and transformation". If the label indicates "Italian milk" it means that the whole process has taken place in Italy, otherwise the wording could be, for example, "Blend of non-EU countries".
Not only that: over the years, for some other foods it became mandatory – at least partial – transparency: carne sheep, goats, swine, chicken and beef; tomato; fresh fruit and vegetables; eggs; honey; extra virgin olive oil; fish. Now lIndication of the origin of the subjects it will extend to all packaged foods. As for the meat, also that of rabbit, therefore, but above all the processed meats, like hamburgers. Then cold meats, bread, preserves, fruit juices … The provenance of 'prevailing ingredient' it will be so largely unveiled. And a little more protected the Made in Italy agribusiness. The game is still open to fight theItalian Sounding, or the food that "plays Italian", produced by companies disguised in Italian, but which are not Italian. Source of diatribe with the same EU, theagropirateria and the counterfeiting of Made in Italy products are worth every year a turnover exceeding 60 billion euros each year (data from Coldiretti).
Carola Traverso Saibante
October 2017
updated February 2019
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