Horsemeat found in beef burgers on sale in UK and Ireland

[busybeeburns]

 

Horsemeat found in beef burgers on sale in UK and Ireland

 

Horse DNA has been found in some beef burgers being sold in UK and Irish supermarkets, the Republic of Ireland's food safety authority (FSAI) has said.

 

The FSAI said the meat came from two processing plants in Ireland, Liffey Meats and Silvercrest Foods, and the Dalepak Hambleton plant in Yorkshire. It said they posed no health risk.

 

The burgers were on sale in Tesco and Iceland in the UK and Ireland. In the Republic of Ireland they were on sale in Dunnes Stores, Lidl, and Aldi. Retailers have said they are now removing all implicated batches of the burgers.

 

A total of 27 products were analysed, with 10 of them containing horse DNA and 23 containing pig DNA.

 

Horsemeat accounted for approximately 29% of the meat content in one sample from Tesco. In addition, 31 beef meal products, including cottage pie, beef curry pie and lasagne, were analysed, of which 21 tested positive for pig DNA.

 

The chief executive of the FSAI, Professor Alan Reilly, said that while the findings posed no risk to public health, they did raise some concerns.

 

"Whilst, there is a plausible explanation for the presence of pig DNA in these products due to the fact that meat from different animals is processed in the same meat plants, there is no clear explanation at this time for the presence of horse DNA in products emanating from meat plants that do not use horsemeat in their production process," he said.

 

"In Ireland, it is not in our culture to eat horsemeat and therefore, we do not expect to find it in a burger," Professor Reilly added. "Likewise, for some religious groups or people who abstain from eating pig meat, the presence of traces of pig DNA is unacceptable."

 

Tesco's group technical director, Tim Smith, said his company was informed of the test results by the FSAI on Tuesday and they "immediately withdrew from sale all products from the supplier in question".

 

In Tesco's case, two frozen beef burger products - sold in both the UK and Ireland - were found to contain horse DNA. In a statement, Mr Smith said: "The safety and quality of our food is of the highest importance to Tesco. We will not tolerate any compromise in the quality of the food we sell. The presence of illegal meat in our products is extremely serious."

 

He added that Tesco was "working with the authorities in Ireland and the UK, and with the supplier concerned, to urgently understand how this has happened and how to ensure it does not happen again".

 

"We will not take any products from this site until the conclusion and satisfactory resolution of an investigation," the statement said.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21034942

[Batman]

I don't see the big deal with this :uhoh: well okay if you're a horse person maybe it's kind of creepy :uneasy:

[Mollyxyloto]

^ isn't horse meat illegal in the UK?

 

I'm a vegetarian, don't know about much meat....

CARROTS FTW:laugh3:

[Batman]

^ isn't horse meat illegal in the UK?

I don't know :uhoh: In my country you can buy it like cow or pig meat, no big deal.

I'm a vegetarian, don't know about much meat....

CARROTS FTW:laugh3:

I like to eat meat at least 2 times a week, it's too delicious for me to stop eating it D:

[Tash]

I don't see the big deal with this :uhoh: well okay if you're a horse person maybe it's kind of creepy :uneasy:

 

The problem is that those products shouldn't contain horse meat or pork. I wouldn't want to eat something that is supposed to be 100% beef but actually isn't. I guess those kinds of meat are cheaper than beef and some producers just hoped nobody would ever notice.

[Coeurli]

^Yeah. :anxious:

 

I eat meat but no horse. I just can't, i don't really know why (I mean i eat animals already, so i guess not eating doesn't come from a rational reason for me) psychologically something blocks me :sick:

[busybeeburns]

Steve Death‏@Its_Death

A Tesco burger walks into a bar. "Pint please". "I can't hear you" says the barman. "Sorry" replies the burger. "I'm a little bit horse".

 

psheehan‏@Padsheehan

Breaking: Traces of meat now found in McDonald burgers #shocker #horseburger

https://twitter.com/Padsheehan/status/291291480985837569

 

:lol:

[Mollyxyloto]

As I said, I'm a vegetarian (I'm not a pushy one, who will force it upon you), but I think if they are going to buy a certain meat, they should get what they are paying for, not horse bits :s.

[Batman]

 

psheehan‏@Padsheehan

Breaking: Traces of meat now found in McDonald burgers #shocker #horseburger

https://twitter.com/Padsheehan/status/291291480985837569

 

:lol:

:laugh3:

[EmmaLouiseSmyth]

I don't see the big deal with this :uhoh: well okay if you're a horse person maybe it's kind of creepy :uneasy:

I thought this too. I'm not too shocked or upset about the whole horse meat thing per say.

But yes of course they shouldn't have done that. If you pay for beef, you should get beef.

[Reilly]

I don't find this, or dog or cat meat, gross.

[Abracadabra]

The problem is that those products shouldn't contain horse meat or pork. I wouldn't want to eat something that is supposed to be 100% beef but actually isn't. I guess those kinds of meat are cheaper than beef and some producers just hoped nobody would ever notice.

 

I have never believed you get 100% of what the product is called for, especially not when it comes to food.

[Cyan Kat]

I just assumed they used all cow in beef, whether it was actual 'meat' as such or the other crap i wasn't sure.

[busybeeburns]

Bobby‏@dk398862

I dont know why everyone is criticising Tesco I've heard their meatballs are the dog's bollocks!

 

:lol:

[NumbersGirl]

SO THAT'S WHERE JIMMY HOFFA WENT

 

I should tell the Feds to stop digging near my house.

[The Final Track]

^oh,god:sick:

[Black Rose]

New Tesco advertising campaign:

 

So hungry you could eat a horse?

We've got you covered

Tesco, every little helps.

[busybeeburns]

Horsemeat row: Offcuts in burgers came from Poland, says FSA

 

Food standards authorities in the Irish Republic are certain that horsemeat found in beefburgers came from Poland, the UK Food Standards Agency has said.

 

FSA boss Catherine Brown told the Commons environment committee that a mixture of "beef and horse offcuts" were contained in a frozen block of filler product imported from Poland.

 

The meat was processed at the Silvercrest plant in County Monaghan.

 

Investigations have begun in Poland to find out how beef and horse were mixed.

 

Meanwhile, FSA investigations are still ongoing into how traces of horse DNA came to be found in burgers produced at processing plants in the UK.

 

And in a separate development, the Co-operative Group revealed independent tests of its own-brand burgers supplied by Silvercrest found traces of less than 1% horse DNA in three samples, and more than 17% in one sample.

 

The affected products have been withdrawn from sale and the Co-Op has joined Tesco in "delisting" Silvercrest as a supplier.

 

Ms Brown told MPs the Food Standards Agency of Ireland (FSAI) investigation had found the Polish supplier was used by the Silvercrest facility for about 12 months.

 

Traces of both horse and pig DNA were found in value beefburgers sold in Iceland, Tesco, Aldi, Lidl and Dunnes Stores.

 

Asked by MPs how UK consumers could know if horse meat had not been in burgers "for months, if not years", Ms Brown replied: "We haven't [previously] identified horsemeat in burgers as a likely significant risk in this country... that's why it's very important now that we get to the bottom of the Polish connection and the Irish investigation because it is possible that these burgers have been on sale in this country.

 

"The probable limit of possibility... is a year because it's been a year that this supplier has been supplying.

 

"When the Polish get to the bottom of this we will hope to know whether it's likely that this has been going on for a year."

 

Ms Brown said she would not "rule out or in" any prosecutions until all the investigations had been completed, insisting "everything is still very much on the table".

 

She added that none of the samples tested by the FSAI had "anything in them that was unsafe to eat" and insisted there was "no evidence" to suggest the food was unsafe for human consumption.

 

Earlier on Wednesday, Tesco announced it was dropping Silvercrest, part of the ABP Food Group, as a supplier in the wake of the horsemeat scandal.

 

It also announced it was to introduce a "comprehensive system of DNA testing across our meat products".

 

Speaking to the committee, Tesco group technical director Tim Smith said the supermarket had approved seven suppliers for use by Silvercrest for the production of Tesco-branded burgers.

 

"Silvercrest, for whatever reason, chose to use suppliers we had not approved and audited," he said.

 

"If somebody chooses to step outside of that process... for whatever commercial reason, then it's impossible to check a supplier in Poland who we don't know even exists."

 

He said the retailer did not have a different set of standards for its value burgers - found to have been contaminated with horsemeat - than any of its other lines.

 

"You end up doing pretty much the same level of check whatever the product is," he added.

 

The Silvercrest plant is currently closed. ABP Food Group's chief executive Paul Finnerty earlier said the firm had "let customers down" and apologised for the failures.

 

The results of FSAI tests, released to the UK FSA on 14 January, revealed some burgers made at the Silvercrest plant contained up to 29% horsemeat, constituting a "gross contamination".

 

Some 10 million burgers were withdrawn from sale across all of the supermarket chains implicated.

 

UK health minister Anna Soubry, who was also questioned by the committee, said it was not yet clear where the blame for the horsemeat contamination should lie.

 

"It could be that there is a genuine fault in Poland with the particular supplier of this meat, either deliberately or not deliberately because they haven't been doing the right checks," she said.

 

"Until we can establish all those facts we can't roll it back in order to find out where the responsibility lies."

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21267262

[busybeeburns]

Animals intended for halal meat are traditionally slaughtered by hand in accordance with Islamic law

 

'Traces of pork DNA' found in Halal prison meat

 

The Ministry of Justice is to suspend a firm supplying meat to prisons after tests found that it may have provided pies and pasties described as Halal - but with traces of pork DNA.

 

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) said the "local authority" involved was investigating, while the MoJ said the products have been withdrawn. Justice minister Jeremy Wright said the incident was "absolutely unacceptable".

 

Under Islamic law, Muslims are strictly forbidden to eat pork. In a statement, Mr Wright said the Prison Service was investigating the incident "as a matter of urgency".

 

He added: "This is an absolutely unacceptable situation and one which we regret greatly. Clearly this must be distressing for those affected and they can be reassured we are doing everything we can to resolve the situation."

 

The MoJ said it commissioned tests after the "recent high profile incidents" in which beefburgers sold by some supermarket chains were found to contain horsemeat.

 

It said the results of the tests, undertaken by an independent agency, became known on Thursday. A spokesman said: "All prisons have been informed about this very regrettable incident and we reported this issue to the Food Standards Agency immediately. We are taking immediate steps to suspend the contract with the relevant sub-contractor."

 

A spokeswoman for the FSA said it was "informed" that a number of meat pies and pasties supplied to UK prisons - labelled and served as Halal - could have contained traces of pork DNA. She said: "The local authority is investigating how this contamination came about and whether these products have been distributed further across the UK."

 

She added that the supplier and the local authority were based in the same area, but declined to say where. Under Islamic law, the eating of pork is strictly prohibited for Muslims, as is the consumption of meat which has not been slaughtered in the correct way.

 

Halal meat is defined as meat slaughtered by hand and blessed by the person doing the killing, however some Muslims believe a mechanised form is also now acceptable. Food and farming minister David Heath said people "have a right to expect that the food they are eating is correctly described".

 

He insisted: "I have made it clear that I want an urgent meeting with major retailers and suppliers first thing next week to get to the bottom of this completely unacceptable situation."

 

Editor of the Muslim News, Ahmed Versi, said the development was disturbing. "This is very serious because no Muslim would ever eat pork meat - anything to do with pork - and it must be very distressing for those in prison who have been given this meat to realise they may have been eating food which was contaminated with pig."

 

Juliet Lyon, director of the Prison Reform Trust charity, said: "This lapse will have offended and distressed high numbers of Muslim prisoners and their families so apologising, suspending the supplier and investigating the incident are the right steps for the Ministry of Justice to take."

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21302925

[Black Rose]

No, not pork in 'slow and painful death to the animals' halal meat.

 

Riots in the prisons there will be

[busybeeburns]

The product was made for Findus by a French food supplier

 

Findus beef lasagne contained up to 100% horsemeat, FSA says

 

The meat content of some beef lasagne products recalled by Findus was up to 100% horsemeat, the Food Standards Agency has said.

 

Findus withdrew its beef lasagne from retailers in 320g, 360g and 500g sizes on Monday as a precautionary measure.

 

Environment Secretary Owen Paterson said it was "completely unacceptable" that a product claiming to beef lasagne turned out to be mainly horsemeat. Findus said: "We do not believe this to be a food safety issue."

 

The FSA said Findus tested 18 of its beef lasagne products and found 11 meals containing between 60% and 100% horsemeat. People have been warned not to eat the products, which were made for Findus by French food supplier Comigel.

 

The FSA said: "We have no evidence to suggest that this is a food safety risk. However, the FSA has ordered Findus to test the lasagne for the veterinary drug phenylbutazone, or 'bute'. "Animals treated with phenylbutazone are not allowed to enter the food chain as it may pose a risk to human health. The Findus beef lasagne was distributed to the main UK supermarkets and smaller convenience stores. Findus has already begun a full recall of these products. People who have bought any Findus beef lasagne products are advised not to eat them and return them to the shop they bought them from."

 

Mr Paterson said the presence of unauthorised ingredients "cannot be tolerated".

 

"The responsibility for the safety and authenticity of food lies with those who produce it, and who sell or provide it to the final consumer. I know that food producers, retailers and caterers are as concerned as we are at the course of recent events," he said. "The Food Standards Agency, Defra, and the Department of Health are working closely with businesses and trade bodies along the whole food chain to root out any illegal activity and enforce food safety and authenticity regulations. Consumers can be confident that we will take whatever action we consider necessary if we discover evidence of criminality or negligence."

 

Findus said the product was manufactured by a third party supplier and not by Findus. The frozen food company said all its other products had been tested and were not affected. Findus said in a statement: "We understand this it is a very sensitive subject for consumers and we would like to reassure you we have reacted immediately. We do not believe this to be a food safety issue.

 

"We are confident that we have fully resolved this supply chain issue. Fully compliant beef lasagne will be in stores again soon. "Consumers who have purchased the product should call our Findus UK Customer Care Line on UK 0800 132584, ROI 1800 800500 or email [email protected] for a full refund."

 

This week supermarket chains Aldi and Tesco, as well as Findus UK, withdrew some beef products from sale after concerns were raised at their French supplier. Comigel alerted Findus and Aldi that their products "do not conform to specification".

 

They advised them to remove Findus Beef Lasagne and Aldi's Today's Special Frozen Beef Lasagne and Today's Special Frozen Spaghetti Bolognese.

 

Tesco also decided to withdraw Everyday Value Spaghetti Bolognese. The Tesco product was produced at the same Comigel site but there was no evidence of contamination, the supermarket said.

 

The wider food contamination controversy arose in mid-January when Irish food inspectors announced they had found horsemeat in some burgers stocked by a number of UK supermarket chains including Tesco, Iceland and Lidl. Asda has withdrawn products supplied by Newry-based Freeza Meats which was storing meat found to contain a high proportion of horse DNA. Two samples were found to contain 80% horsemeat.

 

The horsemeat controversy has hit the Irish meat-processing industry, with a number of suppliers on both sides of the border affected.

 

The FSA said it would co-ordinate a UK-wide survey of beef products to test for the possible presence of horse or pig DNA. There will be "additional emphasis on brands at the lower end of the market, particularly for burger-type products," it said.

 

Twenty-eight local authorities across the UK will take a total of 224 samples, and results are due to be published in April. The survey "aims to identify and understand factors that may lead to the presence of meat species that are not labelled as an ingredient, so that this can be explained, eliminated or correctly labelled".

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21375594

[busybeeburns]

Mark Tunstall‏@Tunst1

Just heard #findus may be sponsoring the Cheltenham Race Festival this year! #topqualitymeat

 

John Lambshead‏@johnlambshead

Findus DNA test confirms no beef contamination in their Lasagne.

 

Peter Grant‏@PeterGrant19

@julieetchitv I can see a Findus advert now: "For when you're so hungry, you could eat a horse, well you can literally with our lasagne!"

 

Andy Wasley‏@andywasley

I, for one, am shocked to discover that Findus products contained food.

 

Robin Wilson‏@S1rbobby

My wife asked me if I'd like anything on my Findus beef lasagne. How about a fiver each way I replied!

 

Andrew Kerr‏@andyneilk

So now Findus have withdrawn their products because of Horse meat contamination... Shame..I really liked their Spaghetti Bologneighs.

 

mostly grumpy‏@mostly_grumpy

FINDUS frisky pancakes

 

Neil Payne‏@NeilPaynePhoto

Findus crispy pancakes are full of horse?? That's am improvement I thought they were full of shit

 

 

 

:laugh3:

[NumbersGirl]

Aside from the obvious, one thing I find odd about all this is that I wouldn't think there would be THAT many horses available to slaughter as a meat substitute. Besides pets in stables / on pasture, I never see horses around here. Horses are super expensive compared to cows so it wouldn't make sense to use it as a substitue. Is the "availability" of horses different over there?

[Reilly]

People can't get rid of horses here, the prices have dropped dramatically because people want to offload them because of the price of maintaining them, the reason electronically chipping animals has started becoming mandatory is because of the amount of people buying horses/ponies and dumping them in random fields.

 

However, how that equates to some kind of mass production of beef is still baffling to me.

[Black Rose]

Aside from the obvious, one thing I find odd about all this is that I wouldn't think there would be THAT many horses available to slaughter as a meat substitute. Besides pets in stables / on pasture, I never see horses around here. Horses are super expensive compared to cows so it wouldn't make sense to use it as a substitue. Is the "availability" of horses different over there?

 

One event - Grand National

 

All those horses have got to be used somehow