Is Barilla really ‘Italy’s No. 1 brand of pasta?’ A lawsuit says no | CNN Business (2024)

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Is Barilla really ‘Italy’s No. 1 brand of pasta?’ A lawsuit says no | CNN Business? ›

Barilla can't avoid a class-action lawsuit over allegedly deceptive advertising about the pasta's origins, a federal judge ruled this week. At issue is the brand's slogan “Italy's No. 1 brand of pasta,” which the lawsuit says can lead customers to believe it's actually made in Italy.

Barilla. Barilla is the number-one most-chosen pasta brand in Italy, and the fourth most-chosen brand in Italy overall (behind Mulino Bianco, Kinder and Coca-Cola), with a CRP score of 176 – a slight decline, year on year.

The putative class action alleged that Barilla's packaging and labeling misled consumers to believe that Barilla pasta products are produced in Italy and are sourced from Italian ingredients, when many of Barilla's pasta products are produced in either New York or Iowa.

Made in Italy, Barilla is a mass-produced brand that is available all over the world. Also made with durum wheat and water, Barilla has been a trusted brand for commercial pasta lovers for years.

Barilla Pasta is Italy's largest dry pasta brand and dominates the European and American markets. With a long-standing reputation as one of the best Italian pasta brands in the United States, Barilla's products are made with high-protein durum wheat flour, ensuring top quality.

Barilla Holding

In 2018, the annual turnover of the company accounted for US$ 3.8 Billion, with around 8,427 employees working across 100 countries worldwide.

Zero Preservatives. Non-GMO. Barilla® Ready Pasta is a delicious, fully cooked pasta that's ready in the microwave in just 60 seconds. Made with 3 simple ingredients - a dash of extra virgin olive oil, a pinch of sea salt and "al dente" Barilla pasta - Ready Pasta has no preservatives and is non-GMO certified.

Barilla is privately owned by the Barilla family. The fourth generation of the Barilla family is as committed to producing quality and innovative products today as its great-great grandfather was over 145 years ago.

Barilla pasta does not contain peanuts, peanut oil, soy or fish. Certain Barilla pasta products contain eggs, milk and gluten. Some Barilla pasta may also contain tree nuts. For people with a gluten intolerance or allergy, Barilla offers a line of certified gluten-free pastas made with a blend of corn and rice.

Why does Barilla pasta taste different? ›

Due to the difference in ingredients and heating process, Barilla Ready Pasta's taste and texture may vary slightly from other Barilla pastas. For the best taste and texture, follow the heating instructions on the back of the package.

Barilla is an Italian family-owned food company. Established in 1877, it's now an international Group present in more than 100 countries.

Findings from a large review study suggest that replacing refined grains with whole grains, such as whole-wheat pasta, is associated with a lower risk of heart disease, stroke, Type 2 diabetes and colorectal cancer. 1 cup of cooked whole-wheat pasta contains: 207 calories. 7 grams of protein.

Italy's most popular pasta is penne. This quill-shaped pasta is unusual in that it has a very precise origin. It was born in 1865, with a new device patented by Giovanni Battista Capurro in the small town of San Martino d'Albero, near Genoa.

The reason De Cecco is preferred is because it's a higher-quality product. While both De Cecco and Barilla hail from Italy and use 100% semolina flour (the flour of choice for dry pasta), De Cecco takes an extra measure: they use bronze dies to cut the pasta.

1. Spaghetti. Perhaps one of the most popular pasta types in the world, spaghetti consists of long, thin noodles which can be paired with a wide variety of sauces. Possibly the most well known dish is Spaghetti Bolognese, where pasta is paired with meat in a marinara sauce.

A world leader in the markets of pasta and ready–to–use sauces in continental Europe, bakery products in Italy and crispbread in Scandinavia, the Barilla Group is recognized worldwide as a symbol of Italian know–how.

Barilla is among the top ten food brands with the highest household penetration rate in Europe, with over one-third of European households buying the brand. It is one of two Italian companies in that ranking, next to Nutella, which is owned by the Italian manufacturer of chocolate and confectionary products Ferrero.

The small town of Gragnano, however, stands out above the rest as the origin of the best pasta in the world. It's an impressive claim, and not unfounded.