Seven kinds of bovine milk cheese (Asiago, N = 16; Fontina, N = 16; Montasio, N = 16; Puzzone, N = 14; Spressa, N = 15; Toma, N = 16; Vezzena, N = 16) produced in alpine and pre-alpine Italian areas are described using the isotopic ratios of C, N, O, S and Sr and the contents of 49 mineral elements. A multivariate discriminant analysis based on Ba, Ca, K, Mg, Rb, delta C-13(casein), delta N-15(casein) and delta O-18(glycerol) correctly classified 94% of the 109 samples with a maximum of 100% in the case of Fontina and Puzzone, delta C-13(casein) and delta C-13(glycerol) provided an estimation of the maize uptake in the animals' diet and Protected Designation of Origin protocol observance. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.