Boris Johnson blasts ‘ludicrous’ rules which ban Brits from eating rare hamburgers
BORIS Johnson has blasted “ludicrous” rules that prevent British restaurants serving rare hamburgers.
In a new attack on the nanny state, the Tory leadership front-runner exploded “that can’t be true” when told of the health and safety restrictions on diners ordering undercooked meat.
It comes after he promised to look into “sin taxes” on food high in salt, fat and sugar over fears they unfairly hit low-income families.
Under rules imposed by the Food Standards Agency watchdog two years ago, restaurants can no longer serve minced meat products that are “less than thoroughly cooked” without going through strict procedures first.
They must use approved beef suppliers, prove their recipes are safe and warn customers of the risks of food poisoning to get approval.
Told about the restrictions for the first time in a Spectator interview, Boris said: “Can you not order rare hamburgers now?”
He went on: “Why the hell not? That’s ludicrous, that can’t be true.”
Can you not order rare hamburgers now? Why the hell not?
Boris Johnson
Mr Johnson has vowed to ditch the sugar tax and review plans to slap levies on high fat and salty food too.
But ex-Health Minister Steve Brine yesterday branded the policy “dog whistle politics” and threatened to join Jeremy Corbyn and vote down any attempt to ditch the taxes.
Tearing into the wannabe PM, he told Sky News: “If he goes into the House of Commons with this, he still faces the same arithmetic.
“I know where the House of Commons is on this stuff because I was the minister who spoke to it regularly about this.
MOST READ IN POLITICS
“My message to him and his team is - I’ll see you in the House of Commons.”
Tory MP Alistair Burt also vowed to join the revolt, saying he “stands with Steve Brine”.
The next PM will come to power with a wafer thin working majority of just four – leaving him at the mercy of rebellious Tories.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online politics team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours