MEATY ISSUE
Boris Johnson caught up in hilarious spat about sales of Melton Mowbray pork pies
BORIS JOHNSON has found himself embroiled in a hilarious spat over Melton Mowbray PORK PIES.
The PM was accused of telling porkies by one squealing pie chief who said he got it wrong when claiming the meat treats were a success in Thailand and Iceland.
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Mr Johnson quoted the pie when he presented a shopping list of demands for trade talks with President Donald Trump at the weekend.
He said it defied belief they were “unable” to cross the Atlantic because of red-tape.
TELLING PORKIES?
But speaking today, Matthew o’Callaghan, head of the Melton Mowbray Pork Pie Association, said he “wasn’t aware” the pies went to either Thailand or Iceland – suggesting the PM may have meant the supermarket chain.
And he said pork pies weren’t best suited to export markets because of their short shelf life. He told the BBC: “It’s not really a viable economic proposition.”
It triggered a brutal reaction from Downing Street – which said the concerns first emerged during talks about transatlantic trade in 2015.
And a senior source said the truth would out when people spoke to companies that “actually say they’re exporting them”.
But one, Walker & Sons, then said it had previously shipped to both markets it didn’t any longer go anywhere beyond the EU.
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The golden brown pies, which must include uncured pork, salt, lard, wheat flour, pork gelatine and spices, were first commercialised in the 19th century.
They were given protected status by EU law – which is designed to stop copycat firms claiming to use the Melton Mowbray name by recognising the baking method and Leicestershire heritage.
Speaking after the row erupted Mr O’Callaghan promised to send a Melton Mowbray pie to Boris Johnson in the post.
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