Yorkshire pudding is unlikely to be granted protected designation-of-origin status by the European Union despite a campaign by Yorkshire food producers, an EU official says.

Citing an 18th century recipe, the Regional Food Group for Yorkshire and Humber said the wheat-flour, milk and egg dish - a staple of Sunday roasts throughout Britain - originated in the northern English region.

Protected status would mean that anyone outside Yorkshire would no longer be able to call their Yorkshire pudding a Yorkshire pudding - just as champagne can only come from the French region of Champagne.

But in Brussels, a European Commission official - speaking on condition of anonymity - said: "European protection for Yorkshire pudding is unlikely."

Such a proposal would likely be opposed within Britain by long-time manufacturers from outside Yorkshire, who would argue that Yorkshire pudding is a generic food.

Last month the European Commission granted protected status to Yorkshire rhubarb, produced within a 23sqkm chunk of Yorkshire using a candle-light "forcing" process.