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A Jewish deli owner has been found dead just days after his shop was accused of supplying non-Kosher meat.

Robert Kaye's two delis, including Roseman's - Liverpool's only Kosher supplier - were embroiled in scandal at the time of his death.

The married father-of-two was found dead in Manchester in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Roseman's Deli and Gough's Deli, based in Prestwich and also owned by Mr Kaye, were both accused of breaching Kashrut, the Jewish religious dietary laws which govern the sale of Kosher produce, the Liverpool Echo reported.

It is understood that Roseman's supplied a number of major Jewish organisations in Liverpool.

Manchester's Beth Din, which regulates Jewish religious laws in that city, had removed Gough's Deli's licence to sell Kosher meat.

(Image: Liverpool Echo)

The decision on Sunday followed "allegations that non-Kosher meat had been found in the premises", the Echo reported.

Gough's Deli posted a denial on Facebook the same day, writing: "Serious announcement! We have just been informed by the media that Manchester Beth Din has revoked our licence due to violation of Kashrut.

"May we be 100% clear to all our customers that all food provided and produced within our premises has always adhered to and will continue to be within the guidelines of Manchester Beth Din.

"I again repeat myself that this announcement has come from press sources to ourselves and not the Beth Din directly."

The following day, the Liverpool Kashrut Commission, which regulates Jewish dietary laws in the city, claimed Roseman's Deli had also breached Kashrut.

Rabbi Natan Fagleman, of LKC, wrote in a letter circulated within the Jewish community: "Following revelations yesterday [Sunday] that fresh food produced at Roseman's Deli is halachically [in the eyes of Jewish law] considered Treif [not Kosher] and with the knowledge that this matter may have been ongoing for a considerable amount of time, many people will need to return their kitchens and their utensils to Kosher status."

(Image: MEN)

The letter stated that communal kitchens, including those in synagogues, a school and Jewish care homes, would be "re-Koshered" with help from "trained experts".

Following Mr Kaye's death, the LKC said in a statement: "The LKC would like to express its condolences to the family of Mr Robert Kaye upon his sad passing.

"We wish his family a long life and no further sorrow."

Howard Winik, chairman of the Merseyside Jewish Representatives Council, said: "It is with extreme sadness that we heard today [Wednesday] of the tragic circumstances of Mr Kaye's death.

"The circumstances are very tragic and we send our condolences and very best wishes to his wife and two children."

He said the allegations were a "serious concern" to the Jewish community.

He added: "As you know Roseman's was the single remaining outlet in the city selling Kosher produce. For this community anything that affects Roseman's affects the community as a whole.

"We would obviously like Roseman's to keep trading. It's a matter of serious concern but I'm confident and the community is confident that we will be able to quickly return to the status quo and we will have a steady supply of Kosher food."

Manchester Beth Din declined to comment.