The UK government has called on the country’s food manufacturers to submit more applications to get protected status for the foods they produce.


Hosting a “celebration” of foods with Protected Food Name status in Downing Street, food and farming minister Jim Fitzpatrick urged producers and consumers to “stand up” for local food.


The EU operates a system to provide specialist regional foods with legal protection against imitation in Europe. Such products are granted protected designation of origin (PDO) and protected geographical indication (PGI) rights.


Brussels currently has a a list of about 800 foods protected by the EU against misuse and imitation. Of these only 38 are UK-based, including Melton Mowbray Pork Pies, West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese and Whitstable Oysters.


“We produce excellent food in this country, but we’re not always great about speaking up about it,” Fitzpatrick said.

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“Through this scheme, we have a way to stand up for local producers and protect their products. So I’m calling on more British producers to get their food protected and for their communities to get behind them.”

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