CATERERS in North Yorkshire have been warned to avoid the temptation to cut costs by substituting beef for lamb after two restaurants were fined thousands of pounds.

Test purchases of lamb curries from Aroma in Zetland Street, Northallerton, and Moti Raj in High Skellgate, Ripon, by North Yorkshire County Council trading standards officials found the meals were 100 per cent beef. Both businesses said they had ordered meat from their suppliers, but not specified it should be lamb, and they were sent the wrong product.

Aroma Redefining Ltd admitted two offences of providing food not of the nature demanded to the prejudice of the purchaser and applying a false label to that food. It was fined £2,500 plus £529 costs and a £120 victim surcharge. Motiraj Contemporary Ltd pleaded guilty to similar offences and received a £3,000 fines, as well as being ordered to pay costs of £547 and a £120 victim surcharge.

Coun Chris Metcalfe, executive member for trading standards, said: “Consumers should not be subjected to this type of scam, which can only be described as a form of food fraud. If a consumer pays for a lamb dish, they should be given lamb, not a cheaper alternative.”