Steps To Protect Tasty Treat

Dundee Cake is a step closer to having protected status, according to Scotland's Food Secretary.

Richard Lochhead has launched a national consultation today to consider the application.

The consultation will run for 12 weeks in line with the rules of the EU Protected Food Names scheme, which was introduced in 1994 to protect food names on the basis of geographical or traditional recipes.

Dundee Cake is famously decorated with whole, blanched almonds and its distinctive recipe began development in the city in the late 1700's. It is well known across the world, however does not currently enjoy PGI status and is produced in a number of various locations.

Mr Lochhead said:

"Dundee is famous as a city of discoveries and we want the world to discover delicious, authentic Dundee Cake.

"We can trace its origins back hundreds of years to the kitchens of the marmalade inventor Janet Keiller, making it a thoroughly Dundonian delicacy which deserves European recognition for its unique characteristics and long associations with this city.

"Scotland is world-famous for our wonderful food and drink, and people want to know they are buying the real deal. Achieving PGI status for Dundee Cake will ensure that consumers at home and abroad have a 100% guarantee of the product's authenticity.

"We already have Scottish foods, such as Stornoway Black Pudding and Scotch Beef, which are PGI protected and free from imitation. It guarantees the food’s provenance and supports local producers.

"The PFN scheme can benefit producers of brands synonymous with Scotland by providing them with recognition of their product and safeguarding it from imitation, and I would encourage them to look at taking this forward."

Martin Goodfellow of local bakers Goodfellow & Steven, and himself a past deacon of the Baker Trade, said:

"Dundee Cake has become so far removed from its roots that it has almost become a catch all term for any fruit cake with peel and almonds in it. That is not the origin of the cake, nor is it the way it has been made in the city for over one hundred years. It is time we took back what is our own! To this end, we have had fantastic support from both Dundee Council and the Scottish Government and have built up a strong case for consideration."

Dundee City Development Convener Councillor Will Dawson said:

"Dundee Cake is one of the city's most famous delicacies and an important part of our history. It's only right that we work towards getting protected status for this much loved cake."