2023-11-24 12:31:19
The Liège pudding divides. Around twenty Liège butchers claim an IGP, that is to say a Protected Geographical Indication. The name “boudin de Liège” would thus be reserved for Liège butchers who follow a precise recipe. To the great dismay of the meat processors federation.
We have a land, and we defend it
“We want to defend Liège know-how, it must remain in the province of Liège,” explains Benoit Simonis. For this Liège butcher, the Liège pudding is made in Liège, with Liège marjoram. “You can have marjorams that come from the end of the world, that are ionized, that arrive by boat, they absolutely do not have the same taste as ours” he explains.
With around twenty butchers, he demands an IGP to avoid fancy Liège puddings: “It’s completely crazy to call a white pudding from Liège with mandarin orange a white pudding from Liège with pistachios. The white pudding from Liège is ONE product, and we must defend it.”
The name sells
But that doesn’t please the federation which represents meat processors. She reminds us that Liège pudding is produced everywhere in the country, and above all, the name “Liège pudding” sells. The IGP will make it exclusive to Liège butchers. And this is precisely what Benoit Simonis wants: “We need regional products. We have a terroir, and we defend it. A little bit like Bayonne Ham, a little bit like lots of other IGP products in France, Belgium and Germany, and we want to so that the white pudding of Liège is identified by its terroir.”
The file went to the Council of State. Today, it is in the hands of the Walloon administration, which will draw up a draft ministerial decree. The Liège butchers therefore seem to have won a battle, but not yet the blood sausage war because the road is still long. This project will have to be approved by the Walloon government, then Europe will have to decide.
Watch our video above.
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