Two thirds of ham and cheese pizzas tested in a recent investigation by our trading standards team failed to contain ham or cheese.
We're now issuing reminders to Derbyshire food businesses warning them that they could face prosecution under the Food Safety Act if they do not describe food correctly or properly label it for sale.
Between January and March this year trading standards officers visited 15 takeaways across the county and took away samples of pizzas containing ham and cheese for testing. As well as testing the cheese and ham for substitution, officers also checked salt levels.
Of the samples tested:
eight were found to contain a mixture of cheese and cheese substitute in place of 100% cheese
five contained turkey ham in place of ham
one pizza contained salt higher than the recommended amount.
Our trading standards team is also investigating a supplier who misled a business by claiming they were selling real cheese when further tests revealed it was a mixture of cheese and cheese substitute.
Our Cabinet Member for Health and Communities Councillor Dave Allen said:
"It's important that we keep consumers safe from any misleading or false information when it comes to what's in their food.
I buy them from supermarkets - but maybe they are the same????