Cornish pasty protection debated

The pasty is worth about £150m a year to the county's economy

The debate over whether the Cornish pasty should have a protected status is being discussed on Wednesday.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is holding a seminar on Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) in Cumbria.

If approved, it would mean a pasty could only be called 'Cornish' if it has been either produced, processed or prepared in Cornwall.

But some food manufacturers outside the county are unhappy at the proposal.

Food imitations

The government says it has received objections from companies which fear their businesses may suffer.

The Cornish pasty is said to be worth about £150m a year to the county's economy.

The PGI is an EU initiative which is aimed at stopping locally-produced foods being imitated by other non-local brands.

Other well known products which have benefited from protected regional status are Newcastle Brown Ale and Melton Mowbray pork pies.