Italian family Parmigiani banned from selling cheese

An Italian family has been banned from selling cheese under its own name because it looks too much like Parmigiano.

"The Parmigiani family from Lombardy has owned a cheese and meat delicatessen store for more than half a century. The surname Parmigiani is passed down in the family, and the store itself has been operating since 1970. Over time, the owners decided to create products under their own brand. This is how hard cheese with the inscription Parmigiani appeared. It was this decision that turned into serious problems for the family," writes the author of the public "Immigration to Italy".

According to the Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium, the name and design of the product could mislead customers, creating too close an association with the famous Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, protected by the European DOP status.

In September 2024, an inspection with the participation of the NAS Carabinieri unit came to the store. Although it was stated on the packaging that it was only about "hard Italian cheese", the consortium considered the use of the surname Parmigiani too similar to the protected name.

The case did not go to trial. The family decided not to enter into an expensive lawsuit. The initial fine of 25 thousand euros was reduced to 4 thousand under the agreement. However, in addition to the fine, the owners had to destroy the already manufactured cheese heads and packaging with the logo.

"We could not afford endless litigation. But that's our last name. Our store has borne this name since 1970. Can't we use our own surname?" says Marco Parmigiani.