Turopolje pig meat latest Croatian product to get European level protection

‘Meso turopoljske svinje’, or Turopolje pig meat in English, has been granted the European protected designation of origin, the Ministry of Agriculture has confirmed. 

With this, the product name has been registered in the register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications and is safeguarded across the entire European Union. 

The EU sign of protected designation of origin or protected geographical indication, which is displayed on the packaging, guarantees the consumer the purchase of an authentic product.

The process to protect the name ‘Turopolje Pig Meat’ was initiated by the Noble Municipality of Turopolje, the Section of Turopolje Pig Breeders, which submitted an application to the Ministry of Agriculture for the protection of the designation of origin under the name ‘Meso turopoljske svinje.’

The Turopolje pig originates from the Croatian region of Turopolje, and in the second half of the 19th and the first half of the 20th century, the breeding area of the Turopolje pig expanded from Turopolje to Sisak and Draganić, and later to parts of Slavonia and Podravina, reaching as far as the borders of Hungary, thus making the Turopolje pig the most widespread pig breed in Croatia.

(Photo credit: Diego Delso, delso.photo, License CC-BY-SA)

The protection of the product ‘Turopolje Pig Meat’ is based on the specific quality of the meat, which is a result of the genetic basis, as well as the way the pigs are raised and fed, and the age of the pigs at the time of slaughter.

‘Turopolje Pig Meat’ is characterized by a darker and redder colour, a more compact muscle texture, and inherently has a higher degree of fat accumulation, especially in the subcutaneous part and between the muscles. When cooked, the meat has an elastic and juicy consistency, full flavour, and a specific aroma imparted by the melted fat of the meat.

Croatia now has 45 agricultural and food products whose names are registered in the European Union as protected designations of origin or protected geographical indications.

They are: 

„Meso turopoljske svinje“, Krčki pršut, Ekstra djevičansko maslinovo ulje Cres, Neretvanska mandarina, Ogulinsko kiselo zelje / Ogulinski kiseli kupus, Baranjski kulen, Lički krumpir, Istarski pršut / Istrski pršut, Drniški pršut, Dalmatinski pršut, Poljički soparnik / Poljički zeljanik / Poljički uljenjak, Zagorski puran, Krčko maslinovo ulje, Korčulansko maslinovo ulje, Paška janjetina, Šoltansko maslinovo ulje, Varaždinsko zelje, Slavonski kulen / Slavonski kulin, Međimursko meso ‘z tiblice, Slavonski med, Lička janjetina, Istra, Paška sol, Zagorski mlinci, Paški sir, Bjelovarski kvargl, Brački varenik, Varaždinski klipič, Malostonska kamenica, Rudarska greblica, Dalmatinska pečenica, Dalmatinska panceta, Lički škripavac, Bračko maslinovo ulje, Zagorski bagremov med, Zagorski štrukli / Zagorski štruklji, Meso istarskog goveda – boškarina / Meso istrskega goveda – boškarina, Samoborska češnjovka / Samoborska češnofka, Lumblija, Goranski medun, Dalmatinska janjetina, Slavonska kobasica, Komiški rogač, Novigradska dagnja and Varaždinsko bučino ulje.