TV chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall has said that eating meat from a puppy is “no worse or better” than eating pork.

Hugh, who became a vegetarian for five months while filming the latest series of his hit Channel 4 show, River Cottage, made his remarks while being interviewed about the show for the Radio Times.

He said, “In principle, but not in practice, I have no objection to a high-welfare organic puppy farm.

“You can’t object, unless you also object to the farming of pigs.

“It’s an artificial construct of our society to make pets out of dogs and meat out of pigs.

“Both animals could be used the other way round, although pigs probably do make better meat and dogs better pets, but it’s not a foregone conclusion.”

However, when asked if he’d eat loin of Labrador, Hugh admitted he would have to be “starving”.