PGI: Pudding Good, Indeed

PGI is one of those acronyms that sounds as if it could apply to anything, but when it is applied to food it means Protected Geographic Indication.

So what is that? Well, before a food can be certified as PGI, it must be a true local food, originating from a particular region, and possessing a particular style that flows in part from the area. The French have been talking about this sort of thing for a long time, and they would describe any such food as being "specialité de la region".

So, congratulations to Staunton's of Timoleague, in West Cork, who have just been awarded PGI for their very distinctive and original brown pudding (they also make very good black and white puddings). They achieved PGI status ­ which took a whole 2 years to achieve ­ because their puddings are made using pigs sourced from a six-mile radius of their factory in Timoleague, they can achieve full traceability for all food they use, and because the pudding is made in the true West Cork style, in the shape of a circular ring, according to traditional West Cork recipes.

Joe Walsh T.D., the Minister For Agriculture and Food, presented the company with their gong, and like a good West Cork man expressed his delight that a West Cork company should be one of the 2 companies who received the designation so far (the other newcomer is Clare Island Smoked Salmon, and the only other Irish holder of PGI is Imokilly regato cheese). Stauntons puddings are widely available.

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text © John & Sally McKenna
illustrations © Ken Buggy