Kismet Kebabs sold millions of fake lamb kebabs containing goat and skin, fined £500,000

On July 2, 2026, Kismet Kebabs, one of the UK’s largest doner kebab manufacturers, was fined £500,000 for selling kebabs that were falsely labeled as containing lamb. Investigations revealed that the kebabs contained less than 10% sheep meat, with significant amounts of goat and skin included instead.

Fraudulent Practices at Kismet Kebabs

The Essex-based company had advertised its kebabs as containing up to 87% lamb. However, following DNA testing initiated by trading standards officers in Swansea, it was discovered that many of these products contained minimal actual lamb. The findings raised serious concerns about food safety and consumer trust in takeaway food.

According to Swansea trading standards officer Rhys Harries, “I think some customers won’t be surprised there’s a lot of skin and fat in these products - but I don’t think many people will be expecting goat.” The firm had reportedly made £6 million from the fraudulent sales over several years.

Comparison to the Horsemeat Scandal

The situation has drawn parallels to the infamous 2013 horsemeat scandal, where horsemeat was found in products labeled as beef across Europe. Harries noted, “It’s almost the same as the horsemeat scandal, because of the volume of product that was going out of this factory.”

Investigators raided Kismet’s facilities in May 2021, uncovering a shocking lack of lamb meat. “We didn’t see any lamb apart from lamb fat,” Harries stated. Instead, they found pallets of goat, offcuts with high fat content, and boxes of skin.

Consequences and Industry Impact

In court, Kismet Kebabs was ordered to pay £259,298 in costs due to their “considerable dishonesty” over a prolonged period, as described by Judge Huw Rees. The case highlights the necessity for stringent food labeling and safety regulations to protect consumers.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has emphasized its commitment to food safety, stating, “Food must be safe and accurately labelled, wherever it’s sold, and we take food fraud and mislabelling seriously.” Following the raid, Kismet Kebabs has claimed to have implemented significant changes to its operations.

• Kismet Kebabs fined £500,000
• Less than 10% sheep meat found in kebabs
• Company made £6 million from fraudulent sales
• Similarities to the horsemeat scandal highlighted