When you tuck into a kebab, is it really what you think it is?

Findings by Dorset County Council suggest not.

The trading standards team has been investigating local takeaways to ensure that kebab meat is accurately described so consumers can be clear on what they are eating.

Officers purchased lamb doner kebabs for testing from food outlets in Dorchester, Weymouth and Blandford - and six out of seven samples contained significant proportions of beef.

They also tested lamb shish, lamb kofte and beef burgers which were all described accurately. These tests included checks for a range of other potential substitute meats.

The meat products supplied to the takeaways by wholesalers were labelled correctly in all cases but it was the description on the takeaways’ menus that differed from the actual ingredients.

Ivan Hancock, trading standards service manager, said:

“Consumers have a right know what they are eating and when it comes to meat products this can be much more significant for many. Food retailers have a responsibility to pass on the correct information with accurate labelling and menu descriptions. 

“Following this exercise we have worked with the businesses to make sure they label food correctly. Formal action is being considered in certain individual cases.

“We have also sent guidance letters to outlets that weren’t tested to highlight the issue and encourage improvement and will continue to test food samples across the county where we have concerns.”

The county council’s trading standards service is responsible ensuring compliance with laws controlling food quality, compositional standards, food labelling and traceability. 

For more information, visit www.dorsetforyou.gov.uk/trading-standards