- Kebab rat
A Kebab rat is a pejorative term used in the East End of
London to describe uncleanvermin meat that has been processed to formdöner kebab meats. Since the processing and production of meat for consumption as kebabs is normally limited to lamb,beef ,chicken or occasionallyfish , the use of vermin meat is considered unsafe and in many countries illegal. The vermin meat is supposedly ground and mixed with proper meats before being processed into the large slab of meat which is fed onto a vertical spindle and grilled before being served.The term originated in a local newspaper, the [http://www.hackneygazette.co.uk/ Hackney Gazette] in
2003 , in an article covering the closure of a kebab house inTottenham , although it is likely it had already entered popular use by locals beforehand to describe the products of disreputable meat preparation companies andslaughterhouse s.As of
2005 , there have been no known instances of food preparation companies being closed orprosecuted due to the use of vermin meat in edible products in London, which might suggest that the term is unwarranted and potentiallyslander ous. It is believed that reports of food [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4333275.stm poisoning from local kebab shops] become distorted and foster thisurban myth .In the UK selling rodent meat in kebabs is likely to be incompatible with current
Meat Regulations and would likely require a Novel food pre-market safety assessment under European legislation should a kebab shop wish to sell it legally.
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