EU protects Cornish pasties but not Cheshire cheese

Mar 3 2011 by Allison Dickinson, Chester Chronicle

CORNISH pasties are the latest regional food to be protected by the EU – but Cheshire’s famous cheese is unlikely to follow suit.

Under the terms of the Protected Geographic Indication (PGI) scheme, only pasty products made in Cornwall can use the name.

A genuine Cornish pasty will need to contain chunks of beef, potato, onion and swede encased in a D-shaped crust.

Gavin Williams of the West Cornwall Pasty Company – whose chief executive is Chester businessman Richard Nieto and which has a store in Chester, said: “Our pasties have always been handmade and hand crimped in Cornwall and we are delighted they have the protection they deserve.”

Among the 43 British products covered by the scheme are Arbroath Smokies, Melton Mowbray pork pies and Welsh lamb.

There are almost 40 applications currently in the pipeline to protect various UK products, but Cheshire Cheese is not one of them.

Nigel White from the British Cheese Board explained it would be up to cheese makers to apply, but that this was unlikely.

“This is mainly because Cheshire Cheese has been made outside of the county for more than 50 years,” he added.

For more information on Cheshire cheese, visit www.britishcheese.com.