www.independent.co.uk/living/food_and_drink/news/articl -
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Published on: 7/31/2004
Last Visited: 11/8/2007
Julian Wild, the company secretary of Northern Foods, which also claims to have been producing Melton Mowbray pies since the 19th century, said: "We strongly believe the PGI process is supposed to be used to protect food heritage, not to create artificial boundaries, which prevent competitiveness within domestic markets.We ask whether it is a coincidence that the same large food company behind this application is now leading the charge for a PGI for Cornish pasties."
This is true.Dickson & Morris and Charnwood Bakery are owned by Samworth Brothers, which produces 50 per cent of Melton Mowbray pies, and now has the Cornish pasty-maker Ginsters.Mr Wild adds: "If the PGI process is used in this way it will lead to a situation whereby recipe-based products with geographic references, say, Cornish pasties, Eccles cakes, Yorkshire puddings, Lincolnshire sausages, will be produced only in certain places by certain makers."