More UK producers should apply for protected status for the food they produce and join iconic British foods like Stilton cheese, Cornish clotted cream and Arbroath Smokies, Food and Farming Minister Jim Fitzpatrick  has said. 

At an event showcasing foods with Protected Food Name status, Mr Fitzpatrick urged producers and consumers to stand up for local produce.

Speaking at the event, held on 7 August at Downing Street, he said: “Local produce that is traditionally made, unique and authentic attracts people from all over the world for its taste and its quality – it’s good for local businesses and local communities. And that’s something that deserves protection.”

Foods with Protected Name status, such as Melton Mowbray pork pies and Whitstable Oysters, are given legal protection against imitation throughout the EU. The scheme helps farmers, producers and consumers to guarantee the authenticity of regional and traditional foods.

Mr Fitzpatrick also highlighted his aim to raise the profile of regional foods on a global scale: "Ultimately, I want to us to be up alongside France and Italy who among them boast more than 300 protected foods – our food is just as good, if not better, than any other European country. I want to see the UK’s regional foods on the world map."