An authenticity marker made from casein, integrated with a silicon microchip smaller than grain of salt, has been developed to help the Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium guarantee the authenticity of its products. The total value of Parmesan cheese production is estimated at Euros 2.35 billion, but it has also been estimated that the value of fake Parmesan produced globally is around Euros 2 billion. The Consortium has partnered with a US microchip producer (p-Chip) and a Dutch company to combine the microchip with casein (plus glycerol and alcohol), where it is introduced into the Parmesan cheese production process. The microchip is virtually impossible to duplicate and it can withstand extreme temperatures and solvents. It has undergone extensive testing for 2 years, and is being introduced into the production of 100,000 wheels of Parmesan in the second quarter of 2022.
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