Love British Food - EU Protected Food Names

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Many regional food and drink products are part of assurance schemes that specify the standards to which they are produced.

Looking for the logos and marks associated with these schemes when you are shopping will ensure that you are buying quality produce and that it is fully traceable to the producer.

The four main ‘umbrella’ assurance schemes are explained below. Additional schemes and quality marks that appear on specific food types are explained on the appropriate page of the British Food Fortnight website.

EU Protected Food Names

Under the EU, there are three marks that highlight regional and traditional foods whose authenticity is guaranteed: Protected Designation of Origin; Protected Geographical Indication; and Traditional Speciality Guaranteed.

Protected Designation of Origin (PDO): Products with this mark must be produced, processed and prepared in the geographical area from which they originate and the features and characteristics of the products must be due to the geographical area. Examples of British foods with this protection include Stilton, Cornish Clotted Cream and Jersey Royal potatoes.

Protected Geographical Indication (PGI): Products with this mark must be produced or processed or prepared within the geographical area and have a reputation, features or certain qualities attributable to that area. Examples of British foods with this protection include Dorset Blue cheese, Herefordshire Cider and Perry and Welsh lamb.

Traditional Speciality Guaranteed (TSG): Products with this mark must have traditional character either in terms of composition or means of production. Traditional Farmfresh Turkey carries this mark in the United Kingdom.

The marks can only be used on products for which a successful application to the EU has been made.

Not all the ingredients used in marked products have to be locally sourced or, theoretically, even from the country from which the product comes.

From May 2009, every product that has a protected food name will be required to show the appropriate logo and/or wording.

For more information about EU protected foods, contact Irene Bocchetta at Food From Britain on 020 7233 5111; This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or go to www.foodfrombritain.com.

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