Michael Gove watched on as East End smoked salmon was granted the same protected status as champagne and Gorgonzola cheese by the European Union.
The Environment Secretary was on hand to prepare and sample the famous London cure salmon, produced by H. Forman & Son, which now has the Brussels-enforced protected geographical indication (PGI) status.
Mr Gove said: “London cure smoked salmon has been cherished by food lovers in the capital for generations and the traditional skills used to produce it today are testament to the rich culinary heritage we have in this country.
“ It will now rightly sit alongside Cornish sardines, Conwy mussels and Whitstable oysters as examples of the world-class produce that uphold our reputation as a great food nation.”
