Parmigiano-Reggiano Makers Are Putting Edible Microchips the Size of a Grain of Sand Into Their 90-Pound Cheese Wheels to Combat Counterfeiters

Italian makers of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese are countering counterfeiters by adding edible microchips, each about the size of a grain of sand, into the labels of their 90-pound cheese wheels. These microchips are made of silicon and are used in conjunction with blockchain technology to provide a unique serial ID that can be scanned to verify the authenticity of the cheese. The move comes as a response to the high value of authentic Parmigiano-Reggiano, which has prompted counterfeiters to produce imitation “parmesan” cheese that lacks the stringent production standards and regional authenticity of the original product.