Fishmonger claims social media posts are being censored as 'disturbing' after they were reported by vegans

When celebrity fishmonger Rex Goldsmith laid his row of glistening, freshly-caught fish out on the counter and proudly took a photograph to post online, he hoped customers would be enticed to his shop.

Instead, he fell victim to a trend of Instagram censoring photographs of meat and fish - and labeling them as "disturbing".

Mr Goldsmith, who owns The Chelsea Fishmonger in London, serves many well-heeled customers including Nigella Lawson and Henry Blofeld.

This week, those who looked on his page were presented with a warning - placed there by Instagram. It read: "This video contains sensitive content that many may find offensive or disturbing."

This has happened twice so far to Mr Goldsmith, who told The Telegraph: "I think it's a bit ridiculous really. "I don't know whether the post has been reported by vegans or whether Instagram censored it as they thought it would be offensive to vegans."

He added: "If they're going to pick on me, why don't they pick on one of the big companies who use the methods of farming that are bad for the environment and fish welfare."

I guess someone complained. Why the monkey don’t they report pictures of burgers, sausages and bacon too? Ridiculous. And shame on you @instagram for censoring it. People are so detached from reality.

Mr Goldsmith added: "I have no idea why a vegan would follow a fishmonger on social media in the first place."

If this censorship continues, the fishmonger said he may get his friends in the industry to stop posting on the site. He explained: "There's a massive food community out there and we could start a big movement with everybody I know to stop posting their pictures."

Celebrity chef Richard Corrigan, who runs seafood restaurant Bentley's in Mayfair, supported Mr Goldsmith, and said that pictures of fresh fish are not disturbing, adding: "I myself am disturbed by vegans".

A spokesperson for British Meat Producers Association said: "What is the world coming to? The majority of people don't mind pictures of meat.

"The social media companies should not be pandering to vegans. At the end of the day, this is something that any of us walking to the supermarket can see, it's part of the shopping experience. "How can it be 'disturbing content'?"

After this newspaper contacted the social media giant, the fish counter posts were uncensored. Instagram said in a statement:  “This content was marked as sensitive in error and has now been reinstated. We apologise for the mistake.”

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