09/05/2013

Stornoway Black Pudding Gets 'Protected' Status

Stornoway Black Pudding has joined the Cornish pastie, the Melton Mowbray pork pie and Stilton cheese in obtaining official recognition from the EU.

Scotland's Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead announced that the famous black pudding has been awarded Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status, protecting it against imitiation.

Black pudding is a sausage made from pig's blood, oats and spices which is eaten across the UK and Ireland, as well as in Spain and France.

Mr Lochhead said: "Stornoway Black Pudding is a world-renowned delicacy that truly deserves protected status which guarantees the provenance of this iconic Scottish product.

"The award of PGI status is excellent news for the local area and testament to the hard work of the Stornoway Black Pudding Association and the four butchers who worked in partnership to grasp the opportunity to protect their premier product.

"It is important that people know where their food comes from – this certification gives customers from home and abroad the guarantee that what they are buying is the genuine product, made in Stornoway, to the consistently high levels of quality they expect."

Donnie Morrison, Manager of Charles Macleod Butchers in Stornoway, said: "It has been a long, hard fought journey and we have been so encouraged by the support that we have received from our loyal staff and customers, the Scottish Government, Defra and our local politicians.

"The feedback we have received from our fan base across the world has been so positive; so many folk hold the iconic Stornoway Black Pudding close to their hearts and so supported our campaign to protect our product from 'copycat' manufacturers.

"The Stornoway Black Pudding has been made in the Outer Hebrides for hundreds of years on the crofts and so the emergence of imitation 'Stornoway Style' black puddings in the market place proved to be a very real threat to the economic well being of the Stornoway Butchers’ businesses that trade in a national and international market place.

"Our aim has always been to protect the Stornoway brand - it’s a food product that is intrinsically linked back to the Outer Hebrides and we have a duty to safeguard the islands food heritage. We are extremely thankful to all our supporters who have helped us over the last five years."

(IT/CD)

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