Want the best food, film, music, arts and culture news sent straight to your inbox? Sign up for regular updates of events happening in Wales Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

A Welsh butcher fed up with "vegans naming plant-based food after meat" has gone viral after he created carrots using minced meat and parsley.

Tom Samways, owner of T Samways High Class Butchers in Cardigan, said he was so sick of vegan food being named after meat products he decided to create a meat-alternative to the beloved carrot.

The root vegetable was recreated using minced pork meat that was given an orange glaze and finished with parsley to create the leaves.

Tom, 36, said the carrots have been a hit with customers and that his shop sold more than 300 on Saturday alone.

(Image: Tom Samways)

"Everyone loved them," he said. "It started out as a bit of a joke, they were just a gimmick - but they have gone down well and we'll be making more.

"They'll be back on the shelf tomorrow."

He added: "The idea came from the fact that a lot of vegan food is named after meat products, like vegan sausages and vegan chicken.

"I just thought, well, let's make a meat version of vegan food.

"They're just pork kebabs really. They're made from high-quality minced pork meat and are glazed with an Italian herb dressing to get that orange look. Then they're finished off with a bit of parsley."

Since Tom posted a picture of his carrots on Twitter on February 22, it's been retweeted more than 12,000 times and liked by more than 64,000 people.

Carly Markham replied to the post saying: "My dad has been a butcher for over 50 years and made this exact remark the other day. Also, why would Vegans want to eat something with a name associated with animals?"

Lenz Kappov added: "They look amazing, and I'll bet they taste as excellent as they look. Well done, sir."

But the post hasn't been without criticism.

Tom said: "I have had a lot of backlash over it, including some not very nice comments. But at the end of the day it's just a joke.

"The reaction has been mental. It's been shared thousands of times, which isn't bad for a little butcher from Cardigan."

Tom took over the independent butchers shop on Pendre two years ago having worked there for 18 years.

He said that despite vegetarianism and veganism becoming more and more popular, his business hasn't taken a hit.

He said: "I don't know if veganism is a fad or not, but I haven't noticed a drop in sales. At first I was a bit concerned, especially during Veganuary but if anything I've seen an increase in sales. We're definitely up every month.

"I think it's because people are a lot more aware of where their food comes from now. A lot of customers come in wanting high-class meat from a Welsh farm. They don't want to get it from a supermarket anymore.

"I don't have anything against vegans or businesses that change their products to suit demand - you have to do what works for you. But people who come to my butchers are meat-eaters."