MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

The seven kilos leg of an Iberico ham plus DNA certificate for £ 1.800

Pigs were fed acorns and roots and the ham cured and salted during three years

The world's most expensive ham has gone on sale, complete with its own DNA certificate as a proof of authenticity. The leg of Iberico ham, which weighs seven kilos, is on sale at the food hall in Selfridges in London's Oxford Street.

The cost - a juicy £1,800! The whole process began with 50 animals being specially selected by pig farmer and ham expert Manuel Maldonado.

They were allowed to roam over fields in Extramadura in western Spain feeding on a diet of acorns and roots that help give the ham its distinctive flavour.

After the pigs were slaughtered the ham was salted and cured for three years before going on sale in a hand-made wooden box wrapped in an apron made by one of Spain's most exclusive tailors.

Andrew Cavanna, Fresh Food Buyer at Selfridges, said: “Connoisseurs will appreciate the melt-in-the-mouth texture of this truly amazing Spanish ham.

”The leg may seem to have a large price tag but when you think about the amount of care taken from breeding right through to the curing, it is actually amazing value.“

Mr Cavanna added: ”Every single gram will be savoured as one of life's incredible gourmet luxuries.”