EU: Feta cheese can only be Greek

The European Union’s highest court today finally settled the fate of feta cheese, decreeing it as a traditional Greek product deserving protection throughout the 25-nation EU.

Germany and Denmark, backed by France and Britain, had challenged the designation of origin for the salty, crumbly cheese.

“The court upholds the name ’feta’ as a protected designation of origin for Greece,” the Luxembourg-based European Court of Justice said in its ruling.

Danish and German producers had hoped to be able to continue producing feta-like cheese.

“Our feta production will continue. However, we will sell under other names,” said Astrid Gade Nielsen, spokeswoman for Arla Foods, Denmark’s largest feta maker.

“It will open up for others countries to follow suit, for instance, Switzerland could make claims about Emmenthaler and Britain could say the same about Cheddar.” EU Farm Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel said the ruling set an example for global trade talks.