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'Save our hotpot' plea

From the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, first published Tuesday 30th Mar 2004.

A NEWLY-FORMED Government-backed food association is spearheading a campaign to protect the county's traditional teatime treat - Lancashire hotpot.

North West Fantastic Foods Partnership (FFP) is made up of groups such as Made in Lancashire, Made in Manchester and Made in Merseyside, which all have an interest in promoting regional specialities.

The latest initiative is to get locally-produced food into the food chain while preserving the heritage of certain local dishes under the EU Protected Food Names Scheme and trade marking certain regional foods.

This will mean Lancashire hotpot must include specified ingredients sourced from Lancashire.

Lorna Tyson, chairman of FFP, said: "We are trying to make the consumer more aware of some of the treasures we have got in the region such as hotpot and black pudding.

"We are still at the initial stages where we are deciding how to do this before we apply to the EEC."

A number of taste tests are currently being carried out across the county with food experts and consumers to determine which ingredients ought to be included.

Similar initiatives are also under way for other regional specialities such as Eccles cakes and Morecambe Bay shrimps.

Ms Tyson added: "The North West has got some fantastic foods which we need to recognise and protect.

"And by raising awareness we hope we will drive sales up which will in turn help the producers."

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