PIG meat being sold as Old Spot must be the real thing.

It can’t come from cross-bred animals, only from a pedigree Gloucester Old Spot, reared using traditional methods. The breed, recognisable by its white skin and black spots, is among 42 types of British food and drink singled out for special accreditation by the European authorities to be protected in the same way as Champagne and Melton Mowbray pork pies.

Giving the Gloucester Old Spot privileged status is good news for the Earl of Plymouth Estate at Bromfield, just over the Herefordshire border, which has the largest herd of pedigree Old Spots in the country, with more than 500 pigs.

It has been breeding the pigs for four years and its meat is a popular buy at Ludlow Food Centre as well as other parts of the country.

“We have worked really hard to increase the popularity of Gloucesters and to have the breed recognised throughout Europe as a pedigree is fantastic and will definitely help protect the breed standard,”

said Tom Hunt, marketing manager at the centre.