Bloomsbury withdraws Haigh cookbook after copied content claim

Bloomsbury has withdrawn a cookbook by Elizabeth Haigh from circulation, following claims from fellow author Sharon Wee that content had been "copied or paraphrased" from her book without consent.

Makan: Recipes from the Heart of Singapore was released by the Michelin-starred chef earlier this year via Bloomsbury Absolute but will no longer be available to purchase in shops.

A spokesperson for Bloomsbury told The Bookseller: "This title has been withdrawn due to rights issues."

In a statement on

, Wee said: "I was distressed to discover that certain recipes and other content from my book had been copied or paraphrased without my consent in Makan by Elizabeth Haigh, and I immediately brought this matter to the attention of the book's publisher, Bloombsury Absolute. I am grateful that Bloomsbury has responded to my concerns by withdrawing Makan from circulation."

Wee told The Bookseller she was not able to comment further owing to legal reasons.

Her book, Growing up in Nonya Kitchen (Marshall Cavendish International), is a blend of cookbook and memoir that took 10 years to write and was published in 2012. It features her mother's recipes, stories from relatives and research into her heritage. 

Haigh is a former "Masterchef" contestant who has worked in east London restaurant Pidgin. Makan is her debut cookbook and has sold 2,691 copies in the UK through Nielsen BookScan since it was published in May.

The Bookseller has contacted Haigh for a comment.