US First Lady Jill Biden has apologised for likening Hispanic people to tacos after her remarks were widely criticised.

Mrs Biden was speaking in San Antonio, Texas, when she tried to compliment the Hispanic community by saying they were as “unique” as “breakfast tacos”.

Her spokesperson Michael LaRosa said: “The first lady apologises that her words conveyed anything but pure admiration and love for the Latino community.”

The National Association of Hispanic Journalists said Mrs Biden and her speech writers ought to “better understand the complexities of our people”.

The association added: “We are not tacos. Our heritage as Latinos … should not be reduced to a stereotype.”

Mrs Biden had been speaking at the annual conference of UnidosUS and was trying to praise Mexican-American Raul Yzaguirre, who led the civil rights and advocacy organisation for 30 years.

“Raul helped build this organisation with the understanding that the diversity of this community, as distinct as the bodegas of the Bronx, as beautiful as the blossoms of Miami, and as unique as the breakfast tacos here in San Antonio, is your strength,” she said.

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San Antonio is one of the great Latino cities in the US with a population of nearly 1.5 million people that is 65% Hispanic or Latino, according to US Census data.

The city is famously fond of its breakfast tacos, which is part of the local cuisine.

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