I have nothing against the traditional scent of Czech Christmas and the friend of frozen paddlers, but I also agree that it is important to name names. According to Wikipedia and the relevant European Union acquis, rum is rum only as long as it is produced from melasses or sugar cane juice. At the end of the day a creative way was found that has allowed us to maintain our national customs as well as to stick to clear rules of the game. In the same way, we have got used to respecting the rules of origin. We know now that the champagne wine called Champagne can only be produced in the French region Champagne-Ardenne and nowhere else. On the other hand, the Štramberk ears really cannot be coming from anywhere else but Štramberk.         

In the early summer the press run a series of reports on the differences in product composition of multinational food companies in different countries of the European Union. It turned out that while in some countries a popular beverage was sweetened by sacharose from sugar cane, others used isoglucose made from corn. Several such differences were mentioned.

According to the Commission the companies have full right to adjust the products to the individual national markets, use different components and sell them for different prices, as long as the relevant European Union acquis is respected. 

The multinational chains did not miss the opportunity to mention that the differences in the composition of isoglucose polysaccharide and the sacharose disaccharide are negligible. The reasons given were apparently a different production technology as well as reacting to different taste preferences in the individual countries.

I am far from enforcing unified products onto the European Union citizens or from imposing a business strategy on companies. If you sense double standards in this particular case - now it is full summer, holiday period and occasional trips across the border. How about self-testing the product quality on spot and voting directly in the supermarket or store upon return?