If you’re looking to buy gourmet food products in Europe, like wine from Italy or cheese from France, how can you be sure that you’re getting the real deal?

First you want to look for a blue and yellow symbol that authenticates the region and technique in which it’s made.

The symbol will say protected designation of origin or traditional specialty guaranteed.

The system was developed by the European Union to tell you whether your Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese really is from Parma, or whether your Roquefort cheese was really aged in caves near the town of Roquefort.

You get the picture.

In France, you’ll also want to look for the acronym AOC, which authenticates the origins and techniques of certain cheese, butters and other agricultural products.

But how can you get it at home?

Here’s the cool part: Web retailers like IGourmet.com and ChefsWarehouse.com can ship gourmet food products to your house.

That includes cheese, coffees, even olive oil that has been vetted for authenticity.

For more information, check out Global Gourmet: Food Gifts from Around the World.

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