Kismet Kebabs Fined £500,000 for Fake Lamb Sales, Ordered to Pay £259,298 Costs
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jun 7
Kismet Kebabs Fined £500,000 for Fake Lamb Sales, Ordered to Pay £259,298 Costs
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 7
Summary
Swansea Crown Court fined Kismet Kebabs Ltd £500,000 and ordered £259,298 in costs after the Chelmsford-based supplier admitted fraud by false representation over mislabeled meat products.
Court evidence showed products sold as lamb were largely skin, fat, goat, mutton and mechanically reclaimed meat; one doner labeled 87% lamb contained only 51% meat and 40% fat.
The case began after Swansea trading standards sampled kebab meat in late 2020 and early 2021, then inspected Kismet's factory in May 2021 and found major production, packaging and labeling concerns.
Judge Huw Rees said fraudulent activity had been endemic and involved considerable dishonesty over a prolonged period, though he noted later reforms at the company and gave it four years to pay.
Prosecutors said councils around England had already raised labeling complaints, while Essex council ended its partnership with Kismet over serious labeling and potential public health issues.