A butcher who put a sign in his window claiming eating two strips of bacon “reduces your chance of being a suicide bomber” has insisted he meant no offence.

Jeff Rapley claims he only wanted to boost the sales of his bacon.

The sign, displayed in Rapley’s Midtown Quality Meats, read: “Eating two strips of Rapley’s award winning bacon for breakfast reduces your chance of being a suicide bomber by 100%”.

The sign, which was put up earlier in May in the butchers in New South Wales was photographed by a passer-by, which went viral on social media.

It was removed before the image spread on social media after a local resident had complained about it.

Mr Rapley has said the sign was not racist as there was no specific religion mentioned in it.

He also says he is not racist and employs Muslim workers.

“I’m definitely not racist and didn’t mean for it to cause offence, “ he told Narooma News.

He added that the social media response had gotten “way out of hand”.

Local news reports Mr Rapley’s bacon sales have increased to the point where he is almost out of stock.