Peers have accused House of Lords caterers of “madness” after they threatened to remove calves liver from menus in a health and safety drive.
An email sent out from the Lords kitchens said the dish had to be well-cooked “irrespective” of a diner’s wishes but that it should preferably be removed from menus completely.
It comes after House of Commons restaurants were barred from serving eggs last month due to fears over salmonella.
Former cabinet minister Lord Tebbit said: “This has gone way to far. It is a typical example of health and safety going completely out of control. It’s madness.”
The message sent from Tim Lamming, of the Lords catering services, said: “Calves liver must be removed from the menu or it has to be cooked according to the Food Standards Agency recommendations irrespective of the guest’s wishes.
“The preference is for the dish to be removed from menus altogether.”
A spokesman from the House of Lords said the dish would not be banned completely but suggested it had not appeared much recently as it was a seasonal winter dish.
Meanwhile a Commons spokesman said liver would continue to served in the lower chamber’s restaurants but only at a minimum temperature of 75 degrees, in line with health and safety advice.
Last month eggs were removed from House of Commons menus over concerns about salmonella. They were replaced by a liquid egg alternative.
