Cornish Pasties Get Protection

25.02.11

What do you call a Cornish Pasty not from Cornwall, not a Cornish Pasty!

After over a decade of campaigning the Cornish Pasty Association (CPA) was granted the Protected Geographical Indication Status (PGI) by the European Commission on Wednesday.

The designation puts the Cornish pasty on a par with Champagne, Parma ham, Cornish cream and Stilton cheese - defining the location of the product, and ensuring that that from now only Cornish Pasties made in Cornwall and following the traditional recipe can be called ‘Cornish Pasties’.

This traditional recipe also ensures the pasty only contains certain, non artificial, ingredients - beef, potato, onion and swede in a slow-baked D-shaped crimped pastry.

The Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status means "genuine" Cornish pasties will now be stamped with a special logo.

David Rodda from the Cornwall Development Company and spokesperson for the CPA, comments: “Receiving protected status for the Cornish pasty is good news for consumers but also for the rural economy. By protecting our regional food heritage, we are protecting local jobs. Thousands of people in Cornwall are involved in the pasty industry, from farmers to producers, and it’s important that the product’s quality is protected for future generations.”

For more information please see the Cornish Pasty Association website.