I’m originally American living in Europe at the moment (where regional food trademark labels are honored) and I have to say — real Parmesan is utterly pure magic ...

Have you tried the actual cheeses he mentions?

Yes, but I didn't need to. American producer aren't up to snuff at the moment. Belgioioso is an italian brand BTW, I used to sell it in my family's store back in Italy, we used to own a high end deli and know quite a bit about Italian food and specifically about cheese, at 15 I was the "product manager" for parent's store. Ask me anything :)

BelGioioso is absolutely an American brand [1]. It was admittedly founded by an Italian immigrant and run by "Italian master cheesemakers", but all cheese production happens in Wisconsin, using American dairy and workers.

[1] https://www.belgioioso.com/Secret

I call it "Italian" because they are culturally and technically very similar to the companies that make cheese in Italy, and an offshoot of Auricchio (they have been importing cheese in the US for a long time before starting that US company). They make more or less the same medium quality products Auricchio is known for in this country, I'm not really a fan.

There are some very good cheese makers in the States (e.g. Prairie Fruit). But of course they have enough decency not to call their stuff "Parmesan" when it isn't.

How does it being sold in Italy make it an Italian brand? Do they make some of it there? Or is it an unrelated company.

It was started by a member of the Auricchio family - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auricchio