Gloucester Old Spots gain protected status

Gloucester Old Spot pork has become the latest addition to a growing list of British food with protected status throughout Europe.

Environment secretary Caroline Spelman announced at the Three Counties Show in Malvern that it had gained Traditional Speciality Guaranteed accreditation, which guarantees that the food is produced using traditional methods, and is not geographically tied.

The only other British food to gain TSG status was Traditional Farm Fresh Turkeys 10 years ago, although 42 products have other forms of European protection, such as Melton Mowbray pork pies and Cornish clotted cream.

There are three different levels of protected food names designation under the EU guidelines. These are: Protected Designation of Origin (eg Lancashire, Stilton, Cornish clotted cream, Jersey royal potatoes), Protection of Geographical Indication (eg Welsh lamb, Arbroath smokies, Melton Mowbray pork pies) and Traditional Speciality Guaranteed.