Bakers cast doubt on EU bridie bid

Saddler’s and McLaren and Son would like protected geographical indication for the “Forfar Bridie”, meaning only those produced locally could claim the name.

The pastry would join the Stornoway Black Pudding and Arbroath Smokie which are already protected foodstuffs.

Together, the companies have formed the Forfar Bridie Producers Association in an attempt to secure the coveted status.

But Mark Robb, of JM Bakery, which has bakeries in Arbroath, Carnoustie and Monifieth said protected status for the bridie would be unfair.

Mr Robb said: “I think it is a generic name now, a bit like Cheddar Cheese but I suppose it depends on how you look at it.

“We just call our bridies ‘bridies’ but other bakers in Angus have been calling them ‘Forfar Bridies’ for years. It seems a little unfair to say they can’t do it anymore.”

The Forfar Bridie is a D-shaped savoury pastry filled with mince and occasionally onion.

But Mr Robb claimed each baker has their own recipe for making the bridie, casting doubt on the idea of a “Forfar Bridie”.

He said: “Everybody has their own way of doing it. If you look at the two bakers in Forfar, their bridies are completely different.”

“It’s not a household name across the country — it’s a local speciality but I would say it’s an Angus rather than just a Forfar speciality.

“If they are going to get protected status for the bridie, it should be Angus-wide, not just Forfar.”