This is not the type of homage they desire to receive.
Italian farmers have declared war on food companies around the world that attempt to earn a profit using Mafia-related promotional techniques.
Coldiretti, Italy’s largest agricultural trade association, has prepared a hit list that includes “Cosa Nostra Shot” whisky from Scotland, which is offered in bottles fashioned like Tommy guns, “Don Marco’s Mafia Coffee Rub” barbecue seasoning from Germany, and the “Don Corleone” restaurant in Finland.
The head of Coldiretti, Ettore Prandini, told The Guardian that using the name of organized crime for marketing purposes is unacceptable. There is economic harm to our agri-food industry, as well as harm to the victims of the criminal underworld.
This month, the organization traveled to Palermo, Sicily, the birthplace of the Mafia, to exhibit some of the artifacts it discovered after an investigation that uncovered over 300 restaurants outside of Italy with mob-themed names.
On the list are items such as “Cosa Nostra Shot” whisky from Scotland and “Don Marco’s Mafia Coffee Rub” barbecue sauce from Germany.
The country with the most restaurants, 63, was Spain, followed by Ukraine, Brazil, and Indonesia.
The United States, however, which is home to New York City’s infamous “Five Families” and the “Chicago Outfit” founded by the late mob boss Al Capone, has no shortage, including the “Godfather’s Pizza” chain with the motto “A pizza you can’t refuse.”
The New Jersey-based “Bada Bean Cawfee” company takes reference to the “Bada Bing” strip club from the HBO series “The Sopranos,” whose late lead, James Gandolfini, was recently honored by having a Garden State Parkway rest station renamed in his honor.
In addition, in Hilliard, Ohio, “The Meatball Mafia” serves the “Wartime Consigliere” sub and the “Standup Guy” white pizza.
Alessandro Apolito, manager of the Coldiretti branch, stated that the continuous identification of Italy with Mafia stereotypes and criminality is extremely detrimental to the country’s image.
“Especially in Palermo, there was a great sense of outrage at this ludicrous marketing,” he remarked. There are millions of honest and law-abiding Sicilians who have fallen prey to this criminal scourge.
The restaurant “Don Corleone” in Finland is likewise on the Coldiretti hit list.
In addition to the bogus identities, Coldiretti discovered that many of the products were mislabeled as Italian and marketed after their expiration dates.
Apolito stated, “Very frequently, they utilize an Italian flag on an expired goods.” “Not only do these items take shelf space away from authentic Italian products, but they also have a significant economic impact on our food industry.”
The European Union has “protected designation of origin standards” that permit the removal of counterfeit products from store shelves, but nothing prevents businesses from exploiting the Mafia to make money, according to The Guardian.
Alessandro Apolito, manager of the Coldiretti branch, stated that the continuous identification of Italy with Mafia stereotypes and criminality is extremely detrimental to the country’s image.
Nonetheless, Coldiretti is willing to go to court over this matter.
Prandini stated, “We must get an agreement at the European level to ensure that this can no longer occur.”
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