Legal News

Bromley Council’s Food Safety Team has prosecuted two shops in the Penge area for selling sheep mutton meat as goat meat.

Food Safety Officers from Bromley Council’s Public Protection Division tested goat meat sold in butchers’ shops in the borough – and found meat being sold as goat meat was actually mutton at retailers Mr Meat and Haji Sons.

The incorrectly labelled meat was discovered in May 2014, when the sampling programme run by Bromley Council’s Food Safety Team ran the tests on goat meat.

At Mr Meat, three men were prosecuted – Zia Mohammed, Samiullah Shahabzai and Faridoon Shahabzai pleaded guilty at Bromley Magistrates’ Court on the 15 July 2015 and were sentenced on the 8 September 2015.

The court heard that two of the men – Zia Mohammed and Samiullah Shahabzai – had hampered the investigation into the offences and failed to provide information about the operation of the food business or any personal details. As a result, both were also charged with obstruction offences.

A total of £1,900 in fines was imposed, with an £150 victim surcharge and £4,500 in costs to the council.

The fines and costs were apportioned to reflect the responsibility of each of the defendants for the offences – as well as their responsibility for the operation of the Mr Meat business, based at 133 High Street in Penge.

At the food business Haji and Sons butchers, Mr Kasim Aslam – based at 112 High Street in Penge – took full responsibility and pleaded guilty at Bromley Magistrates’ Court on 3 June 2015, to the charge of selling sheep mutton as goat meat.

Mr Aslam was fined £375, plus a victim surcharge of £38. He was also ordered to pay £1,958 in costs.

Bromley Council advises members of the public to ask their butcher about the meat they are buying – especially goat meat, as there is confusion within local communities regarding the terminology used to describe and sell both sheep mutton and goat meat.

Terms such as curry meat, curry mutton or curry goat are illegal and should not be used.

All meat sold by butchers should be properly labelled with the species of animal the meat has come from, as well as the description of the cut of meat and the cost per kilo.

The term mutton is used to describe sheep meat in the UK – it is illegal to use the term mutton to describe goat meat.

Bromley Council Executive Member for Public Protection and Safety, Councillor Kate Lymer, said:

“It is illegal to incorrectly label or misrepresent products – and our Food Team will not hesitate to prosecute businesses who do not comply with the law.

“It is only right and proper that customers should be absolutely clear about what they are buying and not be duped by false labelling.”

Duncan Lewis Criminal Solicitors

Duncan Lewis criminal solicitors can advise at any stage of a charge involving products which are mis-labelled, as well as advising on counterfeit goods, weights and measures issues or the sale of illegal tobacco and alcohol products.

There are Duncan Lewis offices nationwide and a criminal defence solicitor can advise at the start of an investigation into goods which are sold mis-labelled or counterfeit, including attending interviews with investigating authorities such as Trading Standards or HM Customs & Excise.

For expert legal advice on charges relating to illegal products or mis-labelled products, call Duncan Lewis criminal solicitor on 020 7923 4020.