APA News

  • Local authorities to test for lamb meat substitution


    Following the publication of an investigation by Which? , the Food Standards Agency has announced an additional   programme  of priority testing of lamb dishes from takeaway restaurants across the UK following evidence of ongoing substitution of lamb for cheaper meats such as beef and chicken. .An FSA review of local authority sampling data, from July to December 2013, found that 43 out of 145 samples of lamb takeaway meals contained meat other than lamb. In total, 25 of these samples were found to contain only beef. Other meat species identified included chicken and turkey.

    Andrew Rhodes, Chief Operating Officer at the FSA, said: ‘Substitution of lamb for cheaper meats in takeaway food, as seen in our own data and the survey released today by Which?, is unacceptable and we are working closely with local authorities to ensure robust action is taken against any businesses misleading their customers.’

    Local authorities will be asked to take 300 samples.