Placenta chef accused of cannibalism

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, the Independent on Sunday food critic and television presenter, was yesterday accused of "cannibalism" by a Labour MP who wants to ban his programme showing a family eating placenta.

The forthcoming episode of TV Dinners shows a couple inviting friends to feast on their child's afterbirth by tucking into a "placenta pate".

But Kevin McNamara, MP for Hull North, has written to the chairman of the Independetn Television Commission saying he cannot understand how Channel 4 can allow it to be shown.

In his letter to Sir Robin Binggham, Mr McNamara said: "May I suggest you and your colleagues review this film before it is shown and then take steps to prevent such an obscene programme from being screened on television."

The MP, who is a Catholic and a strong opponent of abortion, added: "To me, it goes against the grounds of good taste and decency and is offensive to the public."