One in four UK takeaways use the wrong meats in their dishes

One in four UK takeaways use the wrong meats in their dishes,

If you’re considering a takeaway this weekend, a new report may encourage you to choose a meat–free option. 

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has warned that more than a quarter of UK takeaways use the wrong meat products in their dishes. 

In response to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request, the FSA has released data on DNA tests carried out on food being sold in the UK. 

Worryingly, of 263 samples tested by the FSA, a whopping 73 were ‘unsatisfactory’ due to containing undeclared species. 

Meanwhile, tests by Local Authorities revealed that almost one in five products contain the wrong meat. 

For example, Merguez Moroccan Spicy Sausages were found to contain 13 per cent pig DNA, while Beef Pepperoni was revealed to be 73.2 per cent chicken.

Andrew Quinn, Head of the National Food Crime Unit at the Food Standards Agency said: ‘Food must be safe and accurately labelled, wherever it’s sold, and we take food fraud and mislabelling seriously.

‘However, it is important to note that these sampling initiatives are targeted and therefore their results are not representative of overall food safety and standards in the UK, which remain high.’ 

A Lamb Rogan Josh was 60–100 per cent cow, while Lamb Doner Meat was more than 50 per cent chicken (stock image)

For the FSA’s own tests, it took samples from 263 food items, and tested their DNA profiles. 

‘Of the 263 samples, 73 were unsatisfactory due to containing undeclared species and five were inconclusive,’ it explained. 

‘Of the 73 samples that contained undeclared species, 47 were reported quantitatively, showing the amount of undeclared species present.’

Many of the products tested were expected to contain goat, but really contained undeclared sheep. 

Lincolnshire Sausages – expected to be made from pork – were found to contain five per cent cow DNA, while Gourmet Lamb Burgers had 18 per cent pig DNA. 

Other top offenders included Minty Lamb Burgers, which were really 50 per cent cow.

As part of the FOI request, the FSA also disclosed the results of Local Authority testing. 

Of 66 samples tests, 12 were ‘unsatisfactory’, while four were inconclusive, as no details of the expected species were provided.

Chicken Pepperoni was found to contain 14.5 per cent cow, and Halal Turkey Julienne was 23.3 per cent chicken (stock image)

A Lamb Rogan Josh was 60–100 per cent cow, while Lamb Doner Meat was more than 50 per cent chicken. 

Meanwhile, Chicken Pepperoni was found to contain 14.5 per cent cow, and Halal Turkey Julienne was 23.3 per cent chicken. 

Finally, the FSA in Wales tested four samples of Lamb Bhuna and 14 samples of Hawaiian Pizza from several unnamed takeaways.

‘Of these samples, 13 of the Hawaiian pizzas were unsatisfactory due to the DNA of undeclared species being present,’ the FSA said. 

In the UK, food must be safe and accurately labelled, wherever it is sold, the FSA says.

‘If consumers have concerns about any product, they should contact their local authority,’ Mr Quinn said. 

‘Anyone who suspects food fraud can also report it to Food Crime Confidential at food.gov.uk/report or by calling 0800 028 1180.’

The news comes shortly after experts warned that fraudsters are using AI to trick Deliveroo and other takeaway providers into giving them refunds by pretending their meals are undercooked.

Fake flies and mould, pink burger meat, and melted cakes are among the examples of digital–altered photos customers are using to con firms.

Lawyers says people are ‘getting more sophisticated in the tools that they’re using’ to fabricate claims to companies such as Uber Eats, Just Eat, and Deliveroo.

Caroline Green, co–head of retail and supply chain at the law firm Browne Jacobson, warned that those who make fake claims are committing a crime.

‘If you get away with it once, you’re probably unlikely to leave it at that,’ she told The Times.