The L.A. Times ran a story today about products made in Italy. It might make you think again about buying that souvenir.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationwo...&cset=true

Hi Jean, I'm trying to log in to the latimes from Australia to read the article but I need a zip code. Can you tell me one that I can use as the site won't accept Aussie zip codes. thanks Cathie

98210

Thanks Willtravel!

Interesting article, thanks.

It's not a surprise. I posted a few years ago about most of the Italian olive oil is a blend or from Portugal, Greece and Spanish oils.
They no longer grow enough olives.

Perhaps not a surprise, but certainly sad for the Italian artisans.

Jean, I got put down by a poster some months ago when I posted about this problem regarding "Made in Italy" products. I was accussed of being a racist and/or making up stories. I knew about this because so many friends in Italy have told me this information when I have been in Italy and also during phone conversations. And as Ciga posted..watch the olive oil also. The bottle will say "Produced in Italy" but that doesn't mean the olives are all grown in Italy. Look on the olive oil bottle to see if is reads "solo olive Italiane"..Only Italian Olives.

I am glad that you posted the article from the LA Times..good knowledge for travellers going to Italy.

It's a concern, but how many countries in the world don't do anything similar? It'd probably just be best to avoid any big name companies in any country... and possibly go with the smaller names in smaller stores, maybe.

But it's a concern throughout the world, I don't think anyone should be shocked anymore of finding it in another country. Just be aware, dig a little, but sometimes, if you really want the item, buy it.

That's just my opinion, though. I don't buy fashionable things anyway.

It happens everywhere.
Royal Doulton is now made in China.
Of course, porcelain came from China in the first place, but it's a bit sad.

Gasp!
Does Mrs. Bucket (pronounced bouquet) know that her Royal Doulton is made in China?

Rhea58: Whatever shall she use for her candlelight dinners now?!

Tis a quandry Caladrius.
Maybe she will have to resort to
her picnics by the water side!

For anyone who wants to delve deeper into the issues touched upon in the article posted above, I can recommend two recent books: DELUXE and GOMORRAH:


http://www.amazon.com/Deluxe-How-Lux...666&sr=8-1



http://www.amazon.com/Gomorrah-Rober...751&sr=1-1

[Not on exactly on-topic but along the same lines]

It also happens with many things that you think are local products in the US.

In Southern New England labor and production costs are much higher than say Kentucky.

There is a big turkey farm on a major highway and all year ~75-100 turkeys can be seen in the front of this farm in a large open pen.

Before Thanksgiving and right-up to Christmas a horde of 18-wheel trucks arrive with dead turkeys.
These turkeys were grown in Kentucky, slaughtered, defeathered and cleaned there.

They are then put into trucks and shipped to this farm (and others) where they are then placed in *that* farm's plastic bags with their name & location on it (say 'Joe's Farm'..Ruralville, Mass).

So for the holidays people drive out to these farms to get what they think is a fresh locally-grown turkey when they could get the same type of turkey in a major chain grocery store alot cheaper .

This also happens here where I live with produce.

Some local apple growers no longer grow apples but instead have them shipped-in from down south in huge bins.

Farm stands will also buy southern produce and sell it at their outdoor stands weeks before their own crops come-in.
The joke among them is that it "comes from their early fields" .

We also have a Farmer's Market once a week in a public park here in the suburbs.
Local characters with pick-up trucks buy southern produce at a nearby warehouse and sell it there before the local crops come in.
Again the same produce sold in the nearby grocery/produce stores .
Regards, Walter

Here in New York City the farmer's markets are only allowed to sell what they grow..but there are farm stands on Long Island that sell lemons!

as many said these kind of things happen almost everywhere.
according to me you just have to put attention on what you buy and first of all you have to check the price: you can't buy a bottle of extravirgin olive oil made in italy with italian olives for 3/4 euro...
at least a liter of true and good e.v.o. (extra vergine d'oliva)oil is around 10 euro if you buy it where they do it, or even more, how much more dipends of course.
many edibles products of italy have special marks that confirm their autenticity, of course sometimes they could be fake but not so often...
and remember: if you are in italy it doesn't mean you can buy a true good balsamic vinegar if you are in rome, you should go to modena or around.
the same for other products: good limoncello near naples/amalfi, not the same if you are in rimini^^.
fakes can be behind the corner but if you watch out you can save your money and buy good things.