Think 'mozzarella' and you're likely thinking 'Italian cheese,' but these days you might have to rethink: Germany and the Netherlands are Europe's biggest producers, and Belgium is coming up behind them.
In fact, mozzarella has become Belgium's biggest cheese product, elbowing out the Gouda-style cheese of its Dutch neighbor. And none of this is sitting well with Italian producers, who have tried repeatedly to get protected 'made-only-in-Italy status for the cheese, which is often marketed with Italian-sounding names.
Two specialized mozzarellas, one made with buffalo milk, have qualified for protected name and origin status, but they are specialty products, unlike the mass market versions. In recent months, Italy's government has put forward new plans to oppose use of Italian names or symbols on non-Italian products.
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