Trainee Accountant Victor Kaufman couldn't believe his ears when he settled into his seat for a budget flight from Israel.

For shortly after take-off, the crew announced they were about to begin serving food - which included bacon baguettes and ham melts.

"It was a little insensitive," he said. "I think they need a lesson or two on cultural awareness if they expand their routes into the Middle East."

Mr Kaufman, 25, from East Finchley was on an easyJet flight from Tel Aviv to Luton last weekend.

He said: "I recall at the launch of easyJet flights from Luton to Tel Aviv last year, the airline boasting that kosher food would be sold on this route.

"Even though I take a liberal view on kashrut, easyJet is the only airline I have ever flown on out of Tel Aviv which serves pork products on the flight.

"I thought it was insensitive and have written to them to complain.

The route was opened in November last year, with six flights a week. A month before the launch, they presented a special kosher menu, which included egg mayonnaise and tomato sandwiches, smoked salmon and cream cheese bagels, mozzarella and tomato Panini, and a muffin or chocolate orange mini cake.

The meals were provided by Hermolis, of North West London, and priced the same as standard menu on its other flights.

An easyJet spokeswoman said: "For flights to Israel, easyJet's standard practice is to offer kosher and vegetarian sandwiches on board.

"We do also offer non-kosher products on board these flights, but it is our policy not to load any pork products.

"It appears that a mistake was made on this flight and that incorrect food canisters were loaded on to the aircraft at Luton.

"We would like to apologise to the passengers and can confirm we have done everything we can to ensure that this does not happen again."