A warning has been issued to restaurant owners not to deceive their customers after the director of an Indian takeaway was fined for selling sheep curry which had been advertised as containing ostrich.
Abdul Malik Ali, of Amalik Café Ltd, Thirsk, pleaded guilty to offences under Sections 14 and 15 of the Food Safety Act 1990 when he appeared at York Magistrates Court today.
He and the company have subsequently been ordered to pay a combined total of more than £1,500.
Mr Ali was the food business operator of Jaipur Spice, Busby Stoop Inn, when North Yorkshire Council’s trading standards officers visited the premises in December 2023 and made a test purchase of a meal described as containing ostrich meat.
The Food Safety Act states that all food should be of the nature, substance and quality demanded by the purchaser, while labelling and presentation must be accurate and not likely to mislead.
The dish was tested and found to contain sheep meat rather than ostrich.
In his defence, Mr Ali said a temporary chef had mistakenly selected the wrong meat during preparation of the meals.
North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for regulatory services, Cllr Greg White, said: “Consumers should not be subject to this or any kind of food fraud.
“We will not allow producers to deceive their customers and we will take action against those who break the law.
“If a person pays for an ostrich dish, then they should be given ostrich and not a cheaper alternative.”
After pleading guilty at today’s hearing, Mr Ali was handed a £237 fine and ordered to pay a further £400 in costs and a £95 victim surcharge.
Amalik Cafe Ltd was fined £120 and was ordered to pay £672 costs and a £48 victim surcharge.
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