Baking competition rules ’take biscuit’

Baking competition rules ‘take biscuit’


Anna-Marie Flynn

TRADITIONAL bakery exhibitions are at risk of being consigned to the records of history – and it’s all thanks to a new European directive.
New EU regulations have banned the consumption of cakes and confectionary entered at country fairs and agricultural shows immediately after baking competitions.
Yesterday (Monday), Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council, Cllr Joe Mellett, said the new rules are the ‘death knell’ for the traditional Irish agricultural show. “When you see things like this it’s no wonder the people voted ‘No’ to the Lisbon Treaty. This will be the end of the traditional baking competition at local shows across the country, therefore impacting on local revenue. It’s just ridiculous,” he said.
Under the new rules, adjudicators of the traditional bakery section in local fairs and shows are only permitted to taste the traditional favourites such as apple tarts or cheese-cakes and once the judging has been facilitated, the produce must then be immediately destroyed.
As a result only bite-sized versions of the cakes will be entered, to cut down on waste.
The directive has already been made law in Scotland as part of the Food Hygiene Regulations.
Cathaoirleach Mellett, one of the founding members of his own local agricultural show in Swinford, said he ‘could not believe’ the latest EU directive. “Honestly, when I saw this first, I thought it was something to do with April Fool’s Day; I just couldn’t imagine someone sitting down and coming up with this rule. It is a real deterrent to those entering shows. If you thought your prize produce was going to be destroyed immediately after a tiny taste was taken from it, then you would not want to enter a competition. This law rules out the chance for the produce to be given back to you, or in some instances resold for charity.”
“Local people are doing their best to continue on traditions, particularly in places like the west of Ireland, and this is what they are met with.”
The first citizen also said there were ethical issues surrounding such food wastage, considering the high levels of starvation across the globe.