The current debate regarding food labeling is one familiar to the provenance led shopper; the issue shows just how little Britain plc is willing to protect the brand name or the Union Flag badging from the expert manipultaion from the most powerful of the national supermarket chains.

However, there are about 800 products from within the European Union that carry a protected food name. Should someone decide to make Feta in Yorkshire, there will soon be an official at their door advising that they can’t, as they don’t have the right to. The system was set up to protect the farmer/producer as much as the consumer especially within the European market place.

The European Union Protected Food Name system grew out of the French appellation controllee process and has 3 labels:

1) Protected Designation of Origin; products are produced, processed and prepared within a particular geographical area, and with features and characteristics which must be due to the geographical area. Orkney beef, Stilton and West Country Cheddar Cheese are good examples

2) Protected Geographical Indication; products are produced or processed or prepared within the geographical area and have a reputation, features or certain qualities attributable to that area. Melton Mowbray pies (almost there!), cider and perry from the shires of Gloucester, Hereford and Worcester are examples.

3) Traditional Speciality Guaranteed ;are traditional or have customary names and have a set of features which distinguish them from other similar products. For Example Traditional Farm Fresh Turkey.

The best thing if you are looking for provenance of British produce - don’t go to the supermarket which only exist to operate a marketing strategy based on cheapness to the consumer and maximum profit to the shareholder. Just buy directly from the producer!