2. Meat Products

Legal Requirements

Melton Mowbray Pork Pie, Traditional Cumberland Sausage, Cornish Pasty

These names have legal status as a ‘Protected Food Name’ within the EU via a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI). It means that the pie, sausage or pasty has been produced in the named area, using traditional methods. 

Menus using such descriptions must ensure the pie or sausage meets this legal definition.

Stornoway Black Pudding, Newmarket Sausage

Applications for legal status as ‘Protected Food Names’ within the EU via a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) have been made. If successful, it means that these black puddings and sausages, pasties and sausages will have to be made in the named areas, using traditional methods.

If successful, menus using such descriptions must ensure the meat products meet these legal definitions.

Best Practice Guidelines

There is no obligation on caterers to show the origin of any meat products on their menus, but if they choose to do so, they are required by food and trading standards law to ensure that their descriptions do not mislead the customer.

When the terms ‘Scottish’ or ‘Product of Scotland’ are applied to meat products, this means that Scotland was the last place of ‘substantial change’, which can include processes such as sausage making or cooking. Such meat may have been born, reared and slaughtered elsewhere in the world.

Breed information does not offer any guarantees as to place of origin of the meat products only type of animal it came from. ‘Aberdeen Angus Beef’ for example is reared world-wide. However, a ‘Scotch Beef Aberdeen Angus Burger’ will have to be made from cattle born, reared, slaughtered and processed in Scotland.

How to Apply in Your Business

Asking your supplier for more details on the actual source of meat products, especially those described as ‘Scottish’, or ‘Product of Scotland’, or buying direct from the farm or processor may enable you to make more accurate or detailed origin claims.