Beef found in nearly half of lamb curries in Teesside takeaways

41% of 29 takeaways sold as lamb found to contain beef in investigation by Environmental Health and Trading Standards officers

Beef has been substituted for lamb in nearly half of local curry takeaways, a survey has revealed.

Local businesses are being warned that if they are found guilty of this practice they can be fined up to £5,000 per offence.

The investigation by Environmental Health and Trading Standards officers from five local authorities including Middlesbrough, Stockton and Redcar and Cleveland was carried out as part of the Food Standards Agency’s national food sampling programme.

Officers made anonymous purchases from takeaways across the region to check what meat had been used.

When the meals were analysed by West Yorkshire Analytical Services, 41% of the 29 takeaways sold as lamb were found to contain beef.

Speaking on behalf of the five local authorities - which included Darlington and Hartlepool - Middlesbrough Council’s environmental health manager Judith Hedgley said: “Our findings are consistent with those reported nationally by the Food Standards Agency.

“This is clearly a matter for concern as consumers are being misled as to the true nature of the food they are buying.”

The five councils are planning further work to identify potential food fraud activities.

Appropriate action will be taken against the owners of businesses who are found to have deliberately substituted beef for lamb, which is an offence under the Food Safety Act 1990.

Businesses may be tempted to use beef instead of lamb as lamb is generally more expensive.

The local authorities are warning local food businesses to ensure the food they serve to their customers is correctly described on menus and its composition meets legal standards.

Councillor Charlie Rooney, Middlesbrough Council’s executive member for regeneration and economic development, said: “By working together with the Food Standards Agency and colleagues in Environmental Health and Trading Standards across Teesside, a local, regional and national food fraud has been identified and steps are being taken to protect the interests of consumers.”

Steven Goldswain, Redcar and Cleveland Council’s cabinet member for community safety, said: “Three out of four of the samples sold as lamb curry in Redcar and Cleveland were found to contain beef. This is clearly a matter for concern as consumers are either deliberately or inadvertently being misled.

“Businesses that engage in this sort of practice, where one foodstuff is replaced by another to increase profits, are acting contrary to the laws on fair trade and consumer protection.”