Feta Cheese Protected by EU?

[paharo45]

I've seen "feta-style" cheese in stores from all over the world — some from Denmark, the U.S., even Australia. But I’ve heard that the European Union has rules about what can officially be called “feta.” Is this true?

Is feta a PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) product? If so, what does that mean exactly, and does it apply to just Greece, or specific regions within Greece? How do non-EU countries get away with using the name “feta”?

 

[k_tsoukalas]

Yes — in the EU, “feta” is indeed a PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) product. That means only cheese made in specific parts of Greece, using traditional methods, from sheep’s milk (or a mix of sheep and up to 30% goat’s milk), can legally be called “feta” within the EU. The PDO regions include mainland Greece and the island of Lesvos — not all of Greece.

The PDO status was granted in 2002 after a long legal battle, so in the EU, anything made outside those areas (or from cow’s milk) must be labeled something like “white cheese” or “feta-style.”

Outside the EU, countries aren’t bound by these rules unless they’ve agreed to them through trade agreements. That’s why you see “feta” from Denmark, the U.S., or Australia — they can legally use the name domestically, even though it wouldn’t qualify as feta under EU law.