The work gives a quick glimpse of the criminal offenses aimed at curbing the frauds against the local food production. Once touched upon the concept of "food origin" to criminal ends, it outlines, first, the offenses encompassed in the Italian Criminal Code (Title VIII, Chapter II); then, the complementary legislation on the "made in Italy" protection (L. n. 350/2003). Examined the main flaws of the current system, in the final part the author briefly points out some possible lines of intervention.
Keywords: Criminal law, food law, food frauds, food origin.