The European Commission approved the addition of ‘Achill Island Sea Salt‘ to the register of Protected Designations of Origin (PDO).
‘Achill Island Sea Salt’ is the name given to naturally harvested sea salt from the waters around Achill Island, Ireland’s largest island located off the West coast of County Mayo. The island is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean. Due to its rural location, the waters around the island are not affected by large cities or heavy industries.
‘Achill Island Sea Salt’ contains no additives or preservatives and the production process allows for the retention of over 20 trace elements that are naturally present in the seawater. It is characteristic of its origin in taste and appearance, and affected by the purity of the seawater – which has been rated Grade A for shellfish quality by the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority – as well as the mineral content and production process applied. Each member of staff is trained to ensure the correct texture, size and shape of the salt flakes.
This new denomination joins the list of 1,673 food products already protected. The list of all protected geographical indications can be found in the eAmbrosia database. More information is available online at Quality Schemes and on the GIView portal.
