Remember the flap about renaming "French Fries" as "Freedom Fries" as a protest against france's opposition to the War in Iraq? We were told it was silly to make such a meaningless gesture, that it was childish in the extreme.
Except now it isn't anymore. The EU wants to trademark regional names to protect them from global exploitation. Names like Roquefort, Champagne, Bordeaux, and Rioja. Instead of calling them "french fries", we'll have to call them "potatoes sliced lengthwise twice and dipped in hot oil." Unless of course they come from France.
Roquefort dressing will have to be called "Moldy Cheese Dressing." Swiss cheese from Wisconsin will be called "hard white aromatic cheese with fermentation holes, resembling a food product from Switzerland, but not affiliated with that country in any way."
It doesn't fall trippingly from the tongue, does it?
Imagine if this silliness were to spread. Campbell's would have to rename their New England Clam Chowder to "The Clam CHowder that doesn't have tomato in it." Yankee pot roast could no longer be served in the South, and Southern Fried Chicken could no longer be enjoys north of the Mason Dixon line.
I don't even want to think about what the new names for Bologna and Vienna Sausages would be.
Posted by Rich at September 12, 2003 2:01 PM | TrackBack