Will Fyfe

Trading standards officers found that Kismet Kebabs sold products advertised as lamb that largely contained goat, animal fat, skin, and other low‑quality ingredients, prompting comparisons to the 2013 horsemeat scandal. DNA testing and a factory raid revealed no actual lamb meat was used despite labels claiming up to 87 percent lamb content. The company was fined £500,000 and ordered to pay additional costs after admitting to food fraud, while regulators emphasised the importance of accurate labelling. Kismet Kebabs stated the misconduct occurred under previous management and highlighted recent compliance certification.

Investigators found that kebabs sold by Kismet Kebabs and labelled as containing high levels of lamb were instead made largely from goat, fat, skin and other offcuts. DNA testing by Swansea Trading Standards exposed the discrepancies, leading to a raid on the company’s Essex factory where no lamb meat was found in production. The firm, estimated to have profited £6m during the fraud, was fined £500,000 and ordered to pay additional costs after admitting false representation in court. The Food Standards Agency said targeted sampling revealed the issue but stressed overall UK food standards remain high. Kismet Kebabs stated the misconduct related to past practices and that leadership and compliance systems have since changed.