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Parmigiano Reggiano makers embedding tiny trackers in rind to fight cheese fraud

foodandwine.com

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Re: Parmigiano Reggiano makers embedding tiny trackers in rind to fight cheese fraud

#111

Post by nemo44x »

hkt wrote: post #84
pacbard wrote: post #15

I'm curious to know which cheesemakers are using these chips. If you look at a wheel of Parmigiano (a whole one), you will see a number stamped on it. That's the cheesemaker's matriculation number in the consortium. There are 313 active ones right now. Some of them are very big (especially the ones in the lowlands) and some of them are very small (mostly the ones up in the hills). The small cheesemakers have trouble…

I love the fact about them being coops and having the ability to borrow with their cheese as collateral. It is so old world and so wholesome. I'd like to borrow against my cheese one day.

You can borrow against most assets you own. Margin in your stock account, a mortgage or HELOC, etc. Credit cards are essentially based on your ability to repay much like borrowing against your future cheese revenue.

Re: Parmigiano Reggiano makers embedding tiny trackers in rind to fight cheese fraud

#112

Post by [deleted] »

gg80 wrote: post #59
peoplefromibiza wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> is silly protectionism It's not silly. It's protecting the buyers from frauds. Parmigiano-Reggiano is made in Emilia Romagna, in the Parma-Reggio (Emilia) area. That's the only real deal. Like Champagne which is made only in the Champagne wine region in France. If it's not from there, it's not the same product. It might even be better according to personal taste, for example I prefer Franciacorta, which is from Fra…

Actually it’s made in Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena, part of Bologna and part of Mantua.

[deleted]

Re: Parmigiano Reggiano makers embedding tiny trackers in rind to fight cheese fraud

#114

Post by markdown »

andrewxdiamond wrote: post #106
michaelmrose wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because irrational fears aren't driven by in depth analysis they are driven by fitting in with a theme. If people play telephone pretty soon the tracking chips instead of being in the rind will be said to be in the cheese and either they will be used to remotely terminate undesirables* or tracked from a satellite. * People who put too much salt in their sauce.

Information is the only way to shed light on lies. If you have to hide information, you’re just adding to the lies

The past decade of social media has proven that that isn't how the world works in practice. Lies fly all round the world before the truth even gets out of bed.

Re: Parmigiano Reggiano makers embedding tiny trackers in rind to fight cheese fraud

#115

Post by jfengel »

andrewxdiamond wrote: post #106
michaelmrose wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because irrational fears aren't driven by in depth analysis they are driven by fitting in with a theme. If people play telephone pretty soon the tracking chips instead of being in the rind will be said to be in the cheese and either they will be used to remotely terminate undesirables* or tracked from a satellite. * People who put too much salt in their sauce.

Information is the only way to shed light on lies. If you have to hide information, you’re just adding to the lies

It's the only way, and it usually doesn't work.

Lies win, because reality is fighting with one hand tied behind its back. Truth is nearly always boring because it's forced to be consistent. Lies have no such limitations.

Truth does have the advantage that it appeals to people who aren't complete dumbfucks. Which is to say, a tiny minority.

Re: Parmigiano Reggiano makers embedding tiny trackers in rind to fight cheese fraud

#118

Post by arebop »

yjftsjthsd-h wrote: post #65
arebop wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Only if you have a trusted central database. With blockchain you can move your cheese independent of central authority.

Right, but the whole point here is that central authorities authenticate the cheese

No, I don't think so. From the article I think there is a trade association that views fraud as a problem and thinks that that a verifiable provenance would help. I don't see an implication that the trade association or its members are particularly concerned about internal diversion or substitution of the product. It seems plausible that they think enabling consumers or merchants to verify cheese authenticity will reduce fraud, and they may see a distributed means of maintaining the records as a good way to achieve that.

Re: Parmigiano Reggiano makers embedding tiny trackers in rind to fight cheese fraud

#119

Post by ace2358 »

matthewmcg wrote: post #82
fatnoah wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One thing I miss about my old place in the city was the ridiculously expensive market on my block that carried all of the "real" cheese. The real stuff was so fantastic and flavorful that I usually used far less of it, which partially offset the cost. I also got a $20 jar of pasta sauce there once. I was embarrassed at how much I paid and didn't tell my wife. After her first taste, her reaction was "OMG, what is this…

If you can get good canned tomatoes (I like the Flora brand San Marzano D.O.P, about $5.50 for a 28oz can), this is a great 20 minute recipe that will usually beat any pre-made sauce: https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1015987-classic-marinara...

Canned tomatoes? Yikes. If you’re trying to beat premise sauces at least get some local fresh tomatoes and have a go and making it from scratch. The acidic flavour of canned tomatoes is horrible in my opinion compared to fresh tomatoes.

Re: Parmigiano Reggiano makers embedding tiny trackers in rind to fight cheese fraud

#120

Post by brianzelip »

zeristor wrote: post #108
hkt wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I love the fact about them being coops and having the ability to borrow with their cheese as collateral. It is so old world and so wholesome. I'd like to borrow against my cheese one day.

“Blessed are the cheese makers”

"Not meant to be taken literally, it refers to any manufacturers of dairy products."
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