TOY shop bosses removed a plastic pig from a children's toy farm set because they feared it would upset Muslim and Jewish parents.

A mother who complained to toy store Early Learning Centre (ELC) when she found the pig missing was told it had been removed for "religious reasons," British newspaper The Sun reported.

The mother, named only as Caroline, found there was no pig with the cow, sheep, chicken, horse and dog in the store's HappyLand Goosefeather Farm.

Caroline, who bought the toy for her daughter's first birthday, said the farm set still contained an empty sty and a button that made an oinking noise when pressed.

But after writing to ELC's customer services she got an email reply admitting the pig was removed in case it upset Muslim or Jewish parents.



Both religions ban the eating of pork because they consider the pig an unclean animal.

The email said: "Previously the pig was part of the Goosefeather Farm. However due to customer feedback and religious reasons this is no longer part of the farm."

ELC confirmed it had taken the pig out of the set when contacted by The Sun.



A spokesman said: "The decision to remove the pig was taken in reaction to customer feedback in some parts of the world."

But later they said they would replace the pig in the set but no longer sell it in international markets where it may create offence.

Read more about toy store bans pig on religious grounds at The Sun.

Originally published as Muslims, Jews send toy pig to pasture