Whose cheese is it? Denmark loses the feta cheese fight to Greece

Food fights are not limited to school and college canteens. Countries also fight over 'naming' a food product something specific. In the latest, Denmark lost the feta cheese fight to Greece. Feta cheese is recognised as a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) product of Greece. But for years, manufacturers from Denmark had been selling 'feta cheese' outside of the EU, which Greece claimed is fake feta cheese. 

What happened? 

The dispute reached a boiling point in 2019 when Greece took Denmark to the European court of justice over the matter. The court ruled in favour of Greece and said that if Denmark continues to sell the fake feta cheese outside of the EU then it will be in breach of the EU law. 

Why are the countries fighting over feta cheese? Feta cheese has been recognised as a traditional food of Greece that finds mentioned in the ancient world. It was first recorded in 8th-century BC in the ancient Greek epic poem Odyssey by Homer. History says that even the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle used to enjoy eating cheese. 

Given its ancient historic origins, feta cheese finds sufficient demand across the world. Denmark claiming to produce the same feta cheese makes a dent in Greece's trade. 

Denmark and Greece are not the only countries to have fought over a food product's name. India and Pakistan are also engaged in a tug of war over the rights to name a specific type of rice, 'Basmati' for sale in the EU. 

Is Denmark's feta cheese really fake? Feta cheese is made of unpasteurised sheep milk or sometimes uses a mix of sheep and goat's milk. 

Moreover, the feta cheese PDO is limited to certain parts of Greece, where manufacturers ensure that the animals eat the region's plain grass. This is what gives feta cheese its signature tangy, sometimes salty flavour. It is grainy in texture, usually produced in a lump of a cube, does not have many holes, is soft and melts in the mouth. 

But Greece claims that Denmark uses the name 'feta' for cheese that is produced using pasteurised cow milk which is really just 'white brine' and not 'feta cheese'. Denmark has manufacturing plants outside of the EU to make the cheese. 

How is Feta cheese used? 

Feta cheese is used in various recipes from pies and salad toppings to crunchy fritters. Here are some mouth-watering recipes suggested by netizens you can try out:

Which one is your favourite?