Porky Lights – Updated Information 17 March 2017

The following statement has been made by Slimming World:

Porky Lights sausages statement – 17/03/2017

Following concerns and controversy about the fat levels in Porky Lights sausages, Slimming World has in recent weeks commissioned independent tests to investigate the issue further. Slimming World sent 13 samples of sausages, bought from a number of stores around the country, to two UKAS accredited laboratories for testing. We felt it was important to obtain our own test reports because G White & Co., the company who make Porky Lights, were publicly accusing us of relying on sabotaged test results commissioned by competitor companies – in effect suggesting that we were misleading our members and seeking to discredit their company.

The results of the new tests show that the fat content of the sausages varied enormously and none of the sausages we sent for testing were actually low fat. The table below sets out each of the results (please note that contractually we are not allowed to name the laboratories used or show the actual test certificates) and clearly shows that the average fat content is anything between 8.7g/100g and 19.4g/100g – all significantly higher than the 3.8g/100g fat (or 2.5g fat per sausage) declared on the nutrition information on Porky Lights’ packaging. We have photographs to prove that what we sent for testing were unopened packs of Porky Lights sausages.

These results are in addition to the previous test results which we were shown by one of our suppliers, which consisted of eight reports showing average fat contents ranging from 9.6g/100g to 19.1 g/100g.

As these results show that the fat levels are both high and very inconsistent we have communicated to our 4,500 Consultants across the UK and Ireland to let them know that we are unable to give even an estimated Syn value for Porky Lights at this time.

We have passed on the results of all the tests conducted to date to G White & Co. and we will also be referring the matter to Trading Standards.

G White and Co. continue to dispute the reliability of any of these results: they have shown us results which they commissioned (as it happens from the same laboratory that our supplier used for seven of the earlier tests) showing fat contents of under 3g/100g.

Following communications about our concerns earlier in March, we saw a great deal of negative comments about Slimming World’s motivation for alerting its members to possible inconsistencies in the fat content of Porky Lights. We were accused of attacking Porky Lights because they are a competitor to our own sausages. Nothing is further from the truth – there are various low Syn sausages on the market, and we are happy to share that information with our members so that they are able to make informed choices according to their own personal taste preferences.

We would also like to correct the false claim that the company which obtained the earlier test results upon which we relied supplies us with our own Slimming World/Iceland frozen sausages. It does not.

We’d like to make it absolutely clear that we’ve taken this action to make sure that the information we give to members is as accurate as it can be and to protect members’ weight losses. We must rely on declared information on pack until and unless we have cause to question it. We have had to take this further action to protect our good name and the reputation and good name of every Slimming World Consultant, especially in light of G White’s accusations of sabotage.