No evidence that Maltese sausage was being produced illegally was found in Gozo, the government said in a statement Saturday.

The statement was issued after claims that Maltese sausage was being produced with dog and cat meat. The Malta Independent on Friday already reported that these claims were not true.

In its statement Saturday, the Animal Welfare Ministry said that after allegations made on the social media, a team made up of the police, veterinary services and environmenal health officers carried out inspections in various sites in Gozo.

No evidence was found that Maltese sausages were being produced illegally, the government said, adding that such inspections are carried out regularly.

The government said that investigations into the allegations made continue.

It urged consumers to purchase their products from authorised establishments and for people to report any illegalities.

The government also called for a stop to the spread of fake news that could throw bad light on Maltese and Gozitan products.