Italy is the country of pasta par excellence, yet not all the brands we find on the shelves use wheat grown on national territory. If for you the origin of the raw materials is an important criterion – for environmental, ethical reasons or to support local agriculture – here are the brands that make Italian wheat a cornerstone of their production.
How to read the label
First of all, a clarification: “Made in Italy” does not necessarily mean Italian wheat. The law obliges producers to indicate on the label both the country in which the durum wheat is grown and the country where it is milled. They are two different pieces of information. An Italian mill can very well process Canadian or Ukrainian wheat. What you need to look for is the voice “country of durum wheat cultivation” or “origin of wheat”often written in small print on the back or side of the package.
The brands with 100% Italian wheat
Barilla in Bronze
Barilla’s classic line uses a mix of international origins (generally referred to as “EU and non-EU”), but the Bronze it is produced with 100% Italian wheat. If you are a Barilla consumer and want to choose Italian wheat, this is the variant to look for.
Molise
All La Molisana production uses 100% Italian wheat. One of the most accessible and widespread brands in large-scale retail trade to make this choice across the entire range.
Voiello
Voiello also declares on the label the use of 100% Italian wheat. A historic brand, widely distributed in Italian supermarkets.
Armando
100% Italian wheat, with an additional certification: the wheat used is declared free of pesticide and glyphosate residues. A choice that is positioned one step higher in terms of transparency and traceability of the supply chain.
The other best-known brands – Barilla classical, De Cecco, Rummo, Divella, Riscossa, Consilia – indicate a generic “EU and non-EU” origin on the label, which means that the wheat can come from various European and non-European countries. Garofalo declares a mix between Italy and Arizona (USA).
None of these are necessarily of inferior quality: foreign wheat can meet high production standards. But if you want to know what you’re putting in your cart, now you know where to look.
