Traditional British Food Should Be Given Iconic Status

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At least if Cabinet minister Hilary Benn's call is heeded. In a statement released late last week, Benn declared that traditional British dishes should be given their rightful due. If you are not aware of it yet, there is such a thing as the Protected Food Names scheme, which was launched in 1992. Under this scheme, certain companies may register food products if they meet the following requirements:

• The food must be produced in a specific local area
• The food must be prepared using unique methods
• The recipes must be unique.

Other countries such as Spain, France, and Italy have already registered hundreds of products since the scheme's inception. In contrast, the United Kingdom only has 38 registered food products; hence the minister's call for more products to be registered.

Some of the food products that have already been registered include:

• Kentish Ale
• Gloucestershire Cider
• West Country Farmhouse Cheddar
• Cornish Clotted Cream
• Jersey Royal Potatoes

There are some products which are already in the process of being approved under the said scheme:

• Craster Kippers
• Colchester Oysters
• Lough Neagh Eels
• Cardigan Bay Prawns
• Cornish pasties
• Birmingham Balti.

Among the food products that Benn wants to be recognised are:

• London Porter beer
• Cheshire Cheese
• Bedfordshire Clanger pies
• Stottie Cakes
• York Ham
• Sussex Pond Pudding
• Yorkshire Parkin

Now doesn't all that food make you hungry? So what's stopping you? Just make sure you get the "real thing!"

With Regards;
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