More than pies needed to penetrate Parma ham territory

The news that the Melton Mowbray pork pie is to receive EU protection against imitators from outside the region is welcome, but we've got a long way to go to match other countries in Europe when it comes to regional produce.

There are 170 regionally recognised products in Italy, compared to 37 in Britain, and cumberland sausages or Cornish pasties have yet to make an impact on the EU regulators, let alone Bath chap and Morecambe Bay shrimps.

As from early next year the new legal status will put the Melton Mowbray pork pie alongside Italy's Parma ham, and gorgonzola cheese.

"It is one of the few products where the balance of power lies with producers rather than supermarkets," said Matthew O'Callaghan, chairman of the Melton Mowbray Pork Pie Association.

But Britain has lots of catching up to do, and some would even question the complexity of flavour of a pork pie versus the time and effort that goes into making Parma ham, or stilton versus gorgonzola. Are we really up to the same standard?

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