Smoked meat

The Ribnica Valley in the far south of Slovenia is best known for its centuries-long woodenware tradition, word has however been spreading fast about it also being home to some of the world's best salamis and sausages.

Kraška Gmajna, swathes of dry grassland where sheep and goats grazed for centuries but have since largely become overgrown, has given its name to a unique festival that celebrates the rich cultural and natural heritage of Kras and Brkini in the south-west of the country.

Christmas appetizers - from imported meat. Due to the shortage of Bulgarian pork, almost all sausages in the shop windows are with meat from Germany, Spain and Denmark. At the same time, the prices of meat products on the stand are going up.

Foods prices are skyrocketing and break all records. In the latest news release of the State Commission on Commodity Exchanges and Markets (CFSBT) 37 observed products 26 have become more expensive, 9 are now cheaper and two are unchanged. In doing so, the committee only monitors wholesale prices, which are averaged for the country.

At least two dogs had to undergo surgery on Thursday after eating baited snacks that had been scattered across Philoppaou Hill, a popular spot with Athenian dog owners and host to numerous strays.

The European Union and China agreed on Wednesday to protect 100 European regional food designations in China and 100 Chinese equivalents in the EU to spur trade, particularly of European food and drinks.

The deal will protect the names of such products as cava, Irish whiskey, feta and prosciutto di Parma, as well as China's Pixian bean paste, Anji white tea and Panjin rice.

The price to acquire pork, the main raw material for producing Sibiu Salami, has grown by 15 pct over the last year, but the price for the final product registered an advance of under 10 pct, stated, on Friday, Carmen Gavrilescu, chair of the Association of Sibiu Salami Producers (APSS) in a press conference at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADR).

The European Commission approved the registration of the Romanian product "Plescoi sausages" in the register of the products that benefit from Protected Geographical Indication (PGI), a press release of the community executive informs.

Out of 10 countries, a Bulgarian won the world's pizza competition in Porto, NOVA reported.

New rules on foodstuffs are being developed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Nova TV reported. The goal is to avoid the double standard. The draft provisions provide for the exact meat content of sausages to be described. Wieners, for example, must have at least 50% meat. Similar will be the requirements for kielabasi and other types of sausages.