Consumers` Attitude Towards Traditional Bulgarian Food

Traditional Bulgarian foods dates back to ancient times. Traditional products represent an important element of culture, identity, and heritage and are characterized by both historical and geographical dimensions. Bulgaria and other countries from EU have appropriated and implemented the European Union (EU) food quality schemes in order to protect its traditional food products. Some traditional food products are protected by the European Union (EC Regulation 1151/2012) and for them special EU logos are used and printed on the packages of these products: Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), Protected Geographical Indication (PGI), and those prepared or produced by traditional way: food with Traditional Specialty Guaranteed (TSG). The purpose of this research is to highlight the specific terms associated with traditional foods, to present the achievements in the area of protected traditional foods and to examine consumer attitude towards: protected traditional Bulgaria food with specific name and EU signs/logos of protection. The necessary information for the study is gathered through the survey method using a questionnaire with closed-ended questions. The objective of the survey is to examine consumer attitude towards protected traditional Bulgaria food with specific name and EU signs/logos of protection. The results of the survey demonstrate the need to raise consumer awareness of the European Union (EU) food quality schemes, and the focus should be on the different EU signs/logos of protection; quality of protected food; necessity of separate stands for protected traditional Bulgarian foods in supermarkets.