A FOOD supply company which has a depot in Abingdon has taken steps to remove halal pastry products containing pork from distribution.

3663 Food Services, which has a distribution centre on the town’s Ashville trading estate, had sent the products to inmates in prisons.

The company has now removed the affected McColgan Quality Foods Limited Halal pastry products from its distribution to the Ministry of Justice (MoJ).

The firm 3663 is contracted to distribute a number of products to the MoJ from accredited manufacturers and producers.

Alex Fisher, group managing director at 3663, said: “The very small number of Halal savoury beef pastry products that have been withdrawn from supply were only ever distributed to custodial establishments. The products in question are from one particular food manufacturer, McColgan Quality Foods Limited, and have not been distributed to any other customer.

“All Halal products from this manufacturer have been withdrawn.”

Halal is an Arabic word which means lawful or permissable.

The term not only covers food and drink, but also matters of daily life.

Muslims have to check if processed foods are halal as pork is forbidden for Muslims.

The latest revelation comes after the discovery of horsemeat in consumer foods detailed in a report by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI).