Krakow's counterfeit pretzel scandal

photo - CC/wiki

Beware when hunger pangs strike in Krakow, as you reach for the traditional obwarzanek pretzel sold from carts everywhere.

It's not just a question of choosing between a sprinkling of poppy seeds, or sesame, or coarse salt. Local manufacturers warn unwary customers that they could be bring fobbed off with what they say is a counterfeit product.

They say that a proper Kraków obwarzanek - and heaven forbid you call it a bagel - is baked from a dough dipped briefly in boiling water (hence its name from the verb "obwarzać" to cook or scald) and it should be made by hand, not spewed out of a machine.

After repeated complaints, prosecutors have finally decided to act. Ela Kraewska reports on the Great Krakow Pretzel Scandal.