27/01/2017 (Agence Europe) – The European Commission announced on Friday 27 January that it had approved the request for inclusion of “Raclette de Savoie” in the register of protected geographical indications (PGI). This cheese is made in Savoie, Haute-Savoie and some municipalities in the departments of Ain and Isère. Raclette de Savoie dates back to the Middle Ages when shepherds ate “roast cheese” in summer. It is only at the start of the 20th century that the name “raclette” appeared, a reference to the action of scrapping the melted surface of the cheese before placing it on top of potatoes. This latest name – France’s 239th – will now join the more than 1,380 products that have received EU protection. (LC)