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Fake Stornoway Black Pudding to be made illegal        31/1/13

The famous Stornoway Black Pudding is due to be given legal protection from fake products within days.

Imposters often use the term "Stornoway style black pudding" but angry island butchers claim they are misleading consumers and supplying non-genuine products of lower quality and different flavour.

Now the European Union is poised to impose an official food brand protection status on the marag dhubh to make copycat products illegal.

An EU-wide consultation closed on 15 December and Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant said that no objections have been received.

Ms Grant said the procedure to add the name to the EU register of Protected Geographical Indicators (PGI) has been launched.

Mrs Grant said “Our campaign to protect the identity of the Stornoway Black Pudding started in 2008 when we discovered that “copy cat” black puddings were being produced and passed off as the real thing under the guise of ‘Stornoway Style Black Pudding.’

“My colleagues and I have worked alongside the Stornoway butchers who produce Stornoway Black Pudding since then to have its identify protected in law.

Mrs Grant continued “Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery but nothing comes close to the taste of real Stornoway Black Pudding.

“This is why we simply had to protect the identity of the real puddings which are produced in Stornoway to traditional family recipes.

“I am delighted that the PGI is imminent – this will safeguard the Stornoway Black Pudding, allow the producers to further enhance their place in the global market and ensure that people the world over continue to savour the unique quality and taste of real Stornoway Black Pudding.”