A real Roquefort platter.

Drawing.

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Michel Gile - Sipa

  • The confederation in charge of defending the Roquefort PDO has decided not to take offense at the existence of a blue sheep whose packaging and appearance obey the same codes.

  • A conclusion that makes MEP José Bové jump.

    He believes that the confusion endangers the PDO.

The highest authorities of Roquefort have decided not to make a big deal out of the sheep's blue marketed by Lactalis.

Produced in Rodez and marketed since April 2019, this pasteurized milk cheese has the same color as Roquefort.

It is just as marbled and its packaging resembles that of the famous cheese under protected designation of origin (PDO).

Moreover, it is also stamped Company since produced by the same group.

At the time of the arrival of the blue sheep on the market, the MEP José Bové had qualified as "heresy" this "ersatz of Roquefort", following in the footsteps of other agricultural unionists shocked by the imitation.

It was not followed by the sector since the General Confederation of Roquefort has just hoisted the white flag in this war of Aveyron cheeses, believing that there was no risk of confusion for the consumer.

A survey and blind tastings

"Taking into account the results of studies carried out by Ifop (on a sample of 7,000 people) and by the Confederation's organoleptic commission (blind test on taste)", the "comparison is not confusing", affirms in a press release the cheese body in charge of the defense and management of the OP Roquefort.

I gave notice to the General Confederation of Roquefort to request the immediate cessation of production of this “blue sheep” Company and its withdrawal from marketing # Sociététumauraspas https://t.co/aTMeaFqMzG

- José Bové (@josebove) May 6, 2019

This “possible coexistence” between the two cheeses is far from being to the taste of José Bové who considers it “an instrument of destruction of the designation of origin”.

"The only argument of the confederation is to say that there was an Ifop poll," the MEP told AFP.

But confusion exists at all levels, since it is always the green oval of Société, all the codes of Roquefort Société are on the label ”.

José Bové does not intend to stop there.

"The confederation of Roquefort for me no longer exists and must be dissolved since it fails in all its duties", he loses his temper.

The MEP is waiting to hear the opinion of the National Institute of Designations of Origin (INAO) on this dispute.

And, with his friends, he does not rule out recourse against Lactalis or the Confederation.

The Roquefort sector employs some 1,700 people and operates nearly 2,000 dairy farms.

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