Bid to batter 'impostor puddings'

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Plans on how to gain EU protection for an island delicacy are due to be set out by the Scottish Government.

Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead has backed calls for Stornoway black pudding to get the same status as Stilton cheese and Parma ham.

Labour MSP Peter Peacock said the food was threatened by "impostor puddings" labelled as Stornoway, but made outside of the Western Isles.

He said the authentic food was sought out by the world's top restaurants.

Mr Peacock said it would take time for EU status to be achieved because of the procedures to be followed.

'Real thing'

He added: "As long as we all pull in the same direction I am sure we will be ultimately successful.

"That is important because there are impostor Stornoway black puddings on the market.

"It is nothing like the real thing - Stornoway black pudding is a superb product, cooked in all sorts of ways and used in some of the top restaurants in the world."

In January, Labour Highlands and Islands MSP Rhona Grant and butcher Charles McLeod met European Commission officials about securing protected status.

At that time, more than 1,500 people had signed a petition to stop producers outside Stornoway using the label.