Wetherspoon withdraws Welsh dishes after trading standards probe

Pub operator JD Wetherspoon has removed five meat dishes from its Welsh menus after trading standards officers questioned the provenance of the pork, beef and lamb used.

The five dishes - Welsh black beef curry, Welsh lamb cawl, Welsh pork faggots, Welsh Celtic Pride curry and Welsh chicken curry - are core to the managed pub group's promotion of authentic regional food on its menus in Wales.

Trading standards is understood to have raised doubts as to whether all the meat in the meals could be guaranteed to be Welsh.

A JD Wetherspoon spokesman said: "We have withdrawn these items pending an investigation by Trading Standards.

"There are nine meals on the menu with the term Welsh and we are working with the authority on this. We were not aware of the problem with the meals.

"JD Wetherspoons surveys the length and breadth of Wales to source local ingredients. We purchase these products from the supplier in good faith."

The meals under question were supplied by Baraka Foods Pentre, which said it is fully co-operating with the trading standards investigation.

The four Welsh meals which have been kept on the menu are Welsh Colliers Cheddar Cheese and Ham Ploughman's, Welsh Dragon Sausages and Mash, Welsh Lamb and Mint Sausages and Mash and Welsh Beef and Brains SA Ale Pie.