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Is it still worth protecting the identity of Swiss cheese?

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I cover food and agribusiness and have a special interest in sustainable supply chains, food safety and quality, as well emerging players and trends in the food industry. A background in forestry and conservation biology led me down the path of environmental advocacy. Journalism and Switzerland made me a neutral observer who holds companies accountable for their actions.

Courts in the United States and the European Union have refused to recognise the ‘Swissness’ of Gruyere and Emmentaler cheese respectively. Even the Swiss government has abandoned the battle to protect traditional Swiss cheese names abroad.

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Protecting these names safeguards quality, heritage and rural livelihoods. On the other hand, once a product becomes global, its name inevitably becomes generic and open to broader use. 

In an increasingly globalised food market, how can Switzerland still defend the identity of its cheeses and should it do so?

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T
tpmea373@gmail.com

Yes of course! The identity of a country in reference to it's citizens is unique to it's culture, food, citizens, traditions and in this case exports. Not only is it unique to all of the above, it is what sets it apart from every other nation in the world, it certifies, in this case that "Swiss Cheese" is not just some cheese with holes in it, it is unique to Switzerland in it's process, quality and outcome, such as taste, texture and enjoyment. Identification of cheeses like "Gruyere" and "Emmentaler" distinguish between a "real" Swiss cheese and one desiring to be "like" Swiss cheese, by someone trying to make a lesser quality, lesser distinct, Swiss cheese. Please stand up for true Swiss Cheeses like "Gruyere" and "Emmentaler" and every other Swiss Cheese made with traditional "Swiss integrity and quality". Anything less of a stand is undesirable.

B
Buchfink 40
The following contribution has been automatically translated from DE.

I don't think it will make any difference. People have already made up their minds.

Ich Glaube nicht daran das das etwas bringt.Die Meinungen sind bereits gemacht.

T
tpmea373@gmail.com
@Buchfink 40

Defeatist attitude

D
David_gamper@hotmail.com
The following contribution has been automatically translated from FR.

I’m Swiss and I live in Quebec. I don’t understand why we can’t emphasise in the marketing of genuine Swiss products that Gruyère cheese comes from the region of the same name, just like Emmental. Encourage the public to compare the flavours!__David Gamper

Je suis Suisse et j'habite au Québec. Je ne comprends pas pourquoi on ne puisse pas insister que le style de fromage Gruyère vient de la région éponyme, de même que l'Emmental, dans le marketing pour les vrais produits Suisse. Incitez le public à comparer les goûts !__David Gamper

S
Smiss

Sure.. Switzerland should give up all its identity in the face of globalism, right? Is there anything worth preserving anyways? Should hand over our direct democracy and courts to the EU without a fight as well I suppose

T
tpmea373@gmail.com
@Smiss

Defeatist attitude much? Preserve your courage.

Aquahood CH
AquahoodCHJD

Yes, even if this American AOC doesn’t protect it. It still tells people all over the world that it’s a Swiss product made from milk, rather than one full of antibiotics, growth hormones and cheese produced to our standards. America had an AOC, but it quietly dropped it, as bourbon was once only produced in Kentucky.

Anand Chandrasekhar
Anand Chandrasekhar SWI SWISSINFO.CH
@AquahoodCHJD

American Gruyere sells for between $15-20 per kilo in the US, compared to about $60 for Gruyere cheese imported from Switzerland. Do you think American consumers are willing to pay that much more for the AOC label

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR