08/02/2013

Beef Lasagnes Contain '100% Horsemeat'

UK retailers are being ordered to carry out tests on processed beef products after it was discovered that beef lasagnes made by Findus contained up to 100% horsemeat.

Catherine Brown, the chief executive of the Food Standards Agency said the situation was "appalling".

She said it was likely to have occurred through deliberate fraud rather than mistaken contamination.

Companies must have completed the tests by next Friday.

The agency tested 18 processed lasagne dishes made by Findus.

They are the latest food supplier to be caught up in a crisis that has affected firms in Ireland, France, Poland and Britain.

11 of the lasagnes tested contained between 60% and 100% horsemeat.

Findus began withdrawing lasagnes in 320g, 360g and 500g sizes from shops on Sunday.

Comigel, the French company that makes the lasagnes, said they did not conform to specification.

Tesco and Aldi have already cleared their shelves of frozen spaghetti bolognese and beef lasagne because they were made by Comigel.

Tests will now be carried out to see if the lasagne products contain the veterinary anti-inflammatory drug phenylbutazone, often known as bute, which is banned from entering the food chain.

The agency have said anyone who has bought one of the Findus products should not eat it but return it to the shop where it was bought.

(IT)

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