Sausage-gate: Porky Lights have 3 times more fat than claimed

THE COMPANY accused of claiming its sau- sages were healthier than they are is facing fresh questions after independent tests suggested they have three times as much fat in them as stated.

Porky Lights sausages flew off the shelves earlier this year after they were endorsed by Slimming World for having just 3 per cent fat. But the dieting group changed its mind after it carried out tests, warning they were far more unhealthy.

In a row dubbed ‘sausage-gate’, the product’s manufacturer, G White & Co, hit back, saying it was the victim of dirty tricks. Now further tests, by Ruth Dolby, a food scientist at Nottingham University, have found different packets of Porky Lights had between 6.8 and 9.1 per cent fat.

The same tests revealed Slimming World own-label sausages had between 2.5 and 3.6 per cent, even less than the 4.5 per cent fat declared on packets. Miss Dolby said Porky Lights have ‘extremely variable fat levels’ and that the manufacturer ‘is not taking the necessary steps to ensure quality control’. Chris Price, of G White & Co, last night said tests by his firm were ‘consistent’ and that he had called in Trading Standards to back their veracity. He added: ‘We stand by our product.’