Savonian blood sausage becomes Finland’s 18th EU-protected food product

Finnish public broadcaster Yle reports that savolainen talkkuna, a traditional blood sausage from the Savonia region, has received EU protected name status—the 18th Finnish product to earn the designation.

The recognition, granted in mid-April, aims to prevent misuse of the name and boost the product’s visibility. Local producer Mikko Kokkonen, whose family has made talkkuna since 1917, notes a surge in demand since the certification. “The phone hasn’t stopped ringing—we’ve had to ramp up production,” he said.

Talkkuna, typically served as porridge with butter or alongside roasted pork, is now supplied across eastern Finland, from South Savo to Kainuu. Kokkonen, nearing retirement, is considering a generational handover for the family business.

Tags: food, Finland, EU