TAKEAWAY customers are being ripped off after a number of local curry houses were found to be substituting lamb with beef, according to a new survey.

The investigation by Environmental Health and Trading Standards Officers from the five Tees Valley local authorities was carried out as part of the Food Standards Agency’s national food sampling programme.

Officers from Middlesbrough, Stockton Borough, Hartlepool, Darlington and Redcar and Cleveland councils, made anonymous purchases from takeaways across the region to check what meat had been used.

When the meals were analysed by West Yorkshire Analytical Services, nearly half (41 per cent) of the 29 takeaways sold as lamb were found to contain beef.

Middlesbrough Council’s environmental health manager Judith Hedgley, who was speaking on behalf of the five local authorities, said: “This is clearly a matter for concern as consumers are being misled as to the true nature of the food they are buying.”

Anyone found guilty of deliberately using beef instead of lamb can be fined up to £5,000 per offence.

Steven Goldswain, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council’s cabinet member for community safety, said: “Three out of four of the samples sold as lamb curry in Redcar and Cleveland were found to contain beef.

“This is clearly a matter for concern as consumers are either deliberately or inadvertently being misled.

“Businesses that engage in this sort of practice, where one foodstuff is replaced by another to increase profits, are acting in a manner that is contrary to the laws on fair trade and consumer protection.”

Businesses may be tempted to use beef instead of lamb as lamb is generally more expensive. The local authorities are warning local food businesses to ensure the food they serve to their customers is correctly described on menus and its composition meets legal standards.

Councillor Chris McEwan, Darlington Borough Council’s cabinet member for economy and regeneration said: “This is clearly a matter for concern as consumers are being misled as to the true nature of the food they are buying.

"Officers working for the council will take enforcement action when it is necessary to protect consumers in accordance with our published enforcement Policy.”