4 ms·

> Barilla pasta isn't made in Italy Well, I sure hope that Barilla pasta sold in the US isn't made in Italy! Why would it be? Ok, maybe shipping wine and other

by rob74 3y ago

> Barilla pasta isn't made in Italy Well, I sure hope that Barilla pasta sold in the US isn't made in Italy! Why would it be? Ok, maybe shipping wine and other luxury products halfway around the globe makes some sense, but I'm confident pasta can be manufactured to the same quality standards in most of the developed world. It's already bad enough that a brand called Kerrygold is actually shipping butter from Ireland all over Europe just so they can declare it as "Irish butter", or that French or Italian mineral water is being shipped all over the world...

6510 3y ago
Apparently the slogan was: “Italy’s #1 brand of pasta.”
- soco 3y ago
  And it still is, isn't it. However, nowhere does it imply that the pasta you have on your table is produced in Italy. I fully agree that we must push back on lies and deceit, but this example isn't one of them.
- rob74 3y ago
  ...and that's 100% true - it's an Italian company, and it's the market leader in Italy. And it's using the same recipes to make pasta in other countries, too. Don't see anything wrong, neither with the slogan, nor with the approach...
  - thefurdrake 3y ago
    Except that the consumer isn't actually getting the product that made the brand #1 in Italy, are they? They're getting a differently-manufactured product with the same facade, but we both know the implication is that you're receiving the same product that has produced the property about which the company is bragging. It's strictly true, but it's also misleading.
- Fire-Dragon-DoL 3y ago
  As an italian, I wouldn't recommend barilla. I like Garofalo a lot more. But I never did a proper comparison, so this is subjective and speculative.
Kon-Peki 3y ago
> It's already bad enough that a brand called Kerrygold is actually shipping butter from Ireland all over Europe just so they can declare it as "Irish butter" They have to, it's EU regulations. It actually long predates the EU: Article 275 [0] of the Treaty of Versailles is probably not even the first international agreement about the labeling of products. [0] https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Versailles/Part_X#Article_275 https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Versailles/Part_X#A...
hinkley 3y ago
As a person who can’t eat wheat, it’s a useful distinction. There are many, many conversations about non-celiacs finding that they can eat wheat when traveling in Europe. Between herbicides (you know the one) and the very different strains of wheat we grow there is a lot to unpack. I have a bag of Made in Italy pasta I am building up the courage to cook still.
- vladvasiliu 3y ago
  > Between herbicides (you know the one) Are you talking about Roundup? You'll be glad to know that it's not only still legal in the EU, but they're actually looking to extend its authorization for another 10 years. So the difference in pasta is probably coming from something else.
  - hinkley 3y ago
    Do they use it as a defoliant? Pre-emergent herbicides have all season to break down. In the US we spray roundup on wheat at the end of the season to make it all harvestable at the same time. That is much closer to the minimums placed on the label, which are most likely wrong.
    - vladvasiliu 3y ago
      I don't know, it's not a subject I've followed closely. My comment was based on an article today in Le Figaro (French daily paper) [0] about how the EU proposed to prolong the authorization of glyphosate use for ten more years, since there was no conclusive evidence that it's harmful. However, apparently states still have to deliver authorizations for use themselves, and the EU calls on them to be careful about any harmful effects on "small mammals" and underground water. The article doesn't say anything about when it's allowed to be used. I've checked French Wikipedia which doesn't seem to say this, either. [0] in French: https://www.lefigaro.fr/social/glyphosate-bruxelles-propose-de-renouveler-pour-10-ans-l-autorisation-dans-l-ue-20230920 https://www.lefigaro.fr/social/glyphosate-bruxelles-propose-...
- hombre_fatal 3y ago
something168581 3y ago
Thre are absolutely legitimate ingredient variation and quality differences in different parts of the world. Taking your example of Kerrygold butter, have you ever tried it? It's _very_ good. I've had various other "premium" butters even sourced locally, and while they are also good in their own ways, there is a distinct flavor difference which I'm willing to pay for. So if you as a company want to make your customers happy (and keep them as customers) by continuing to provide some certain specific aspect of your product that can only be achieved by producing it in a certain specific location, it's not reasonable to say "just make it local to where you sell it".
hnburnsy 3y ago
>It's already bad enough that a brand called Kerrygold is actually shipping butter from Ireland all over Europe Not just Europe... https://www.costcobusinessdelivery.com/Kerrygold-Pure-Irish-Butter%2c-Salted%2c-8-oz%2c-4-ct.product.100339833.html https://www.costcobusinessdelivery.com/Kerrygold-Pure-Irish-...
SpicyLemonZest 3y ago
We get lots of European-produced staples (including Kerrygold butter!) in the US. I can't speak for everyone, but I definitely used to think that Barilla was shipping from Italy and that was why it was more expensive than the brands next to it.
tzs 3y ago
Italy exports over 280 000 tons of pasta to the US annually [1]. [1] https://www.statista.com/statistics/1378245/italy-export-volume-of-pasta-by-country/ https://www.statista.com/statistics/1378245/italy-export-vol...

by rob74 3y ago

6510 3y ago

Apparently the slogan was: “Italy’s #1 brand of pasta.”

soco 3y ago
And it still is, isn't it. However, nowhere does it imply that the pasta you have on your table is produced in Italy. I fully agree that we must push back on lies and deceit, but this example isn't one of them.
rob74 3y ago
...and that's 100% true - it's an Italian company, and it's the market leader in Italy. And it's using the same recipes to make pasta in other countries, too. Don't see anything wrong, neither with the slogan, nor with the approach...
- thefurdrake 3y ago
  Except that the consumer isn't actually getting the product that made the brand #1 in Italy, are they? They're getting a differently-manufactured product with the same facade, but we both know the implication is that you're receiving the same product that has produced the property about which the company is bragging. It's strictly true, but it's also misleading.
Fire-Dragon-DoL 3y ago
As an italian, I wouldn't recommend barilla. I like Garofalo a lot more. But I never did a proper comparison, so this is subjective and speculative.

Kon-Peki 3y ago

> It's already bad enough that a brand called Kerrygold is actually shipping butter from Ireland all over Europe just so they can declare it as "Irish butter" They have to, it's EU regulations. It actually long predates the EU: Article 275 [0] of the Treaty of Versailles is probably not even the first international agreement about the labeling of products. [0] https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Versailles/Part_X#Article_275 https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Versailles/Part_X#A...

hinkley 3y ago

As a person who can’t eat wheat, it’s a useful distinction. There are many, many conversations about non-celiacs finding that they can eat wheat when traveling in Europe. Between herbicides (you know the one) and the very different strains of wheat we grow there is a lot to unpack. I have a bag of Made in Italy pasta I am building up the courage to cook still.

vladvasiliu 3y ago
> Between herbicides (you know the one) Are you talking about Roundup? You'll be glad to know that it's not only still legal in the EU, but they're actually looking to extend its authorization for another 10 years. So the difference in pasta is probably coming from something else.
- hinkley 3y ago
  Do they use it as a defoliant? Pre-emergent herbicides have all season to break down. In the US we spray roundup on wheat at the end of the season to make it all harvestable at the same time. That is much closer to the minimums placed on the label, which are most likely wrong.
  - vladvasiliu 3y ago
    I don't know, it's not a subject I've followed closely. My comment was based on an article today in Le Figaro (French daily paper) [0] about how the EU proposed to prolong the authorization of glyphosate use for ten more years, since there was no conclusive evidence that it's harmful. However, apparently states still have to deliver authorizations for use themselves, and the EU calls on them to be careful about any harmful effects on "small mammals" and underground water. The article doesn't say anything about when it's allowed to be used. I've checked French Wikipedia which doesn't seem to say this, either. [0] in French: https://www.lefigaro.fr/social/glyphosate-bruxelles-propose-de-renouveler-pour-10-ans-l-autorisation-dans-l-ue-20230920 https://www.lefigaro.fr/social/glyphosate-bruxelles-propose-...
hombre_fatal 3y ago

something168581 3y ago

Thre are absolutely legitimate ingredient variation and quality differences in different parts of the world. Taking your example of Kerrygold butter, have you ever tried it? It's _very_ good. I've had various other "premium" butters even sourced locally, and while they are also good in their own ways, there is a distinct flavor difference which I'm willing to pay for. So if you as a company want to make your customers happy (and keep them as customers) by continuing to provide some certain specific aspect of your product that can only be achieved by producing it in a certain specific location, it's not reasonable to say "just make it local to where you sell it".

hnburnsy 3y ago

>It's already bad enough that a brand called Kerrygold is actually shipping butter from Ireland all over Europe Not just Europe... https://www.costcobusinessdelivery.com/Kerrygold-Pure-Irish-Butter%2c-Salted%2c-8-oz%2c-4-ct.product.100339833.html https://www.costcobusinessdelivery.com/Kerrygold-Pure-Irish-...

SpicyLemonZest 3y ago

We get lots of European-produced staples (including Kerrygold butter!) in the US. I can't speak for everyone, but I definitely used to think that Barilla was shipping from Italy and that was why it was more expensive than the brands next to it.

tzs 3y ago

Italy exports over 280 000 tons of pasta to the US annually [1]. [1] https://www.statista.com/statistics/1378245/italy-export-volume-of-pasta-by-country/ https://www.statista.com/statistics/1378245/italy-export-vol...