SYDNEY - Red meat, eggs and Australia's favourite biscuit have been banned from Sydney council events under a new "cruelty free" food policy, a spokesman said Wednesday.

"The first sign of this crazy policy came to my attention when the Tim Tams disappeared from the council meeting," said conservative councillor Shayne Mallard.

"When I made inquiries the staff said 'oh no, we've taken Tim Tams out of council because the chocolate comes from the Ivory Coast where there's child labour issues'," he told AFP.

Under the new "sustainable, healthy and cruelty free" catering policy, Mallard said eggs and red meat were forbidden, threatening the great Australian tradition of the barbeque.

Fish was still on the menu, he said, but only species considered "appropriate for catching and consumption" by marine conservationists, while produce had to be grown in the Sydney area.

"It does not relate to mainstream Australians, people just don't relate to that," Mallard said.

"It's in my view political correctness gone mad."

Mallard said he was told there were fears that the chocolate coating Tim Tams -- Australia's most popular biscuit -- used cocoa from plantations using child labour.

"(Tim Tams producer) Arnott's are saying that's not the case," he said.