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Kebab King Fined £500k for Skin and Fat "Lamb"
7 Jun
Summary
- Company fined £500,000 for selling skin and fat as lamb.
- Products contained mostly fat, skin, and mixed meats.
- Judge cited 'considerable dishonesty' over a long period.
Kismet Kebabs Ltd was handed a £500,000 fine by Swansea Crown Court for defrauding customers by selling 'lamb' products that contained minimal actual lamb. Investigations by Swansea Council's trading standards revealed the company's products were predominantly made up of fat, skin, and other meats, including goat and mutton, often misrepresenting the true composition.
The court heard that Kismet knowingly misled wholesalers, retailers, and consumers by mislabelling their products. For instance, a lamb doner advertised as 87% lamb was found to contain only 51% meat and 40% fat. The judge presiding over the case characterized the fraudulent activity as 'endemic' within the company over a prolonged period, citing 'considerable dishonesty'.
In addition to the hefty fine, Kismet Kebabs Ltd was ordered to pay £259,298 in costs. The company, which had previously pleaded guilty to one count of fraud by false representation, will have four years to settle the financial penalties. The firm's defense acknowledged the issues but highlighted significant changes made since the offending occurred.
