(ANSA) - Milan, October 27 - The first wheel of Parmigiano
Reggiano cheese certified as "kosher" or in line with Jewish
dietary law, has been presented at Milan's Expo world fair.
The cheese, presented in Israel's pavilion at the fair, is
produced in strict accordance with the rules governing Jewish
food and diet.
The project to make a "kosher" parmesan started a year ago
in the Bertinelli farming company in Parma. The wheel opened at
Expo was one of the first to reach the right level of
maturation.
It has been certified by the "OK Kosher Certification"
agency, based in New York.
The company is planning to produce about 5,000 wheels of
the kosher parmesan annually.
"We are on the verge of a new and important reality for
Parmigiano Reggiano," said the President of the cheese's
consortium Giuseppe Alai.
"New sales and consumption areas are opening, among
observant Jews but also among millions of people who choose
kosher food due to its recognised high value in terms of
healthiness," he said.
Kosher food makes up almost 30 percent of all food sold in
U.S. supermarkets.
First kosher Parmigiano Reggiano presented at Expo
About 5,000 wheels to be produced annually