This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21377601

The article has changed 22 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
Horsemeat tests ordered on beef products Beef products consumer advice sought after horsemeat find
(about 2 hours later)
Food retailers have been told to carry out tests on all processed beef products after some Findus lasagnes were found to contain 100% horsemeat. People need to be told officially whether they should eat any processed beef foods in the wake of the discovery of horsemeat in Findus lasagne, says Labour's shadow environment secretary.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA), which ordered the UK tests, said it was "highly likely" criminal activity was to blame for the contamination. Mary Creagh accused ministers of "pretending this isn't happening".
It said there was no evidence of a health risk, but its chief executive said it was an "appalling situation". The government said it was working with businesses to enforce regulations.
Findus has apologised to customers and withdrawn the meals from sale. The Food Standards Agency has ordered UK retailers to test all processed beef products. Findus has withdrawn its lasagne from sale.
Findus is the latest company to be caught up in the controversy surrounding contamination of meat products, which has affected companies in the UK, Irish Republic, Poland and France. It is the latest company to be caught up in the controversy surrounding contamination of meat products, which has affected companies in the UK, Irish Republic, Poland and France.
Findus's affected products were made by a third-party French supplier, which had alerted the company to concerns that the beef lasagne product did not "conform to specification". Last month, Irish food inspectors announced they had found horsemeat in some burgers stocked by a number of UK supermarket chains, including Tesco, Iceland and Lidl.
'Illegal activity' 'Criminality or negligence'
Catherine Brown, the FSA's chief executive, told the BBC: "I have to say that that the two cases of gross contamination that we see here indicates that it is highly likely there has been criminal and fraudulent activity involved. Ms Creagh expressed fears that there were further revelations to come from the food industry.
"What we have had over the last four weeks is a constant drip, drip, drip of revelations from the food industry, from the Food Standards Agency, and what I am worried about is that the more they are testing for horse, the more they are finding," she said.
She suggested official guidance was needed on whether people should eat other processed foods labelled as containing beef.
"I certainly wouldn't, but I'm waiting for the government, the experts, the scientists, to tell us and issue proper clear advice for consumers," she said.
"It's simply not good enough for ministers to sit at their desks and pretend this isn't happening."
Environment Secretary Owen Paterson called the Findus discovery "completely unacceptable" and said the presence of unauthorised ingredients in foods "cannot be tolerated".
Mr Paterson said the government was working closely with businesses to "root out any illegal activity" and enforce regulations.
"Consumers can be confident that we will take whatever action we consider necessary if we discover evidence of criminality or negligence," he said.
The FSA said it was "highly likely" criminal activity was to blame for the contamination.
Chief executive Catherine Brown told the BBC: "I have to say that the two cases of gross contamination that we see here indicates that it is highly likely there has been criminal and fraudulent activity involved.
"We are demanding that food businesses conduct authenticity tests on all beef products, such as beef burgers, meatballs and lasagne, and provide the results to the FSA. The tests will be for the presence of significant levels of horsemeat.""We are demanding that food businesses conduct authenticity tests on all beef products, such as beef burgers, meatballs and lasagne, and provide the results to the FSA. The tests will be for the presence of significant levels of horsemeat."
The agency has asked for test results by next Friday.The agency has asked for test results by next Friday.
It has also ordered Findus to test the contaminated lasagne for the veterinary drug phenylbutazone, or "bute". Apology
The FSA said there was no evidence of a health risk from the contaminated lasagne, but has also ordered Findus to test the products for the veterinary drug phenylbutazone, or "bute".
"Animals treated with phenylbutazone are not allowed to enter the food chain as [the drug] may pose a risk to human health," it said."Animals treated with phenylbutazone are not allowed to enter the food chain as [the drug] may pose a risk to human health," it said.
Findus had withdrawn its beef lasagne in 320g, 360g and 500g sizes as a precaution on Monday. Findus's affected products were made by a third-party French supplier, Comigel, which had alerted the company to concerns that the beef lasagne product did not "conform to specification".
The FSA said Findus had tested 18 of its beef lasagne products and found 11 meals containing between 60% and 100% horsemeat.The FSA said Findus had tested 18 of its beef lasagne products and found 11 meals containing between 60% and 100% horsemeat.
It advised people who had bought any Findus beef lasagne products not to eat them and to return them to the shop from which they were purchased. Findus had withdrawn its beef lasagne in 320g, 360g and 500g sizes as a precaution on Monday.
Environment Secretary Owen Paterson said the findings were "completely unacceptable" and the presence of unauthorised ingredients "cannot be tolerated".
Mr Paterson said the government was working closely with businesses to "root out any illegal activity" and enforce regulations.
"Consumers can be confident that we will take whatever action we consider necessary if we discover evidence of criminality or negligence," he said.
But Labour's shadow environment secretary Mary Creagh said official guidance was needed on whether people should eat other processed foods labelled as containing beef.
"I certainly wouldn't, but I'm waiting for the government, the experts, the scientists, to tell us and issue proper clear advice for consumers," she said.
"It's simply not good enough for ministers to sit at their desks and pretend this isn't happening."
Supplier concerns
Findus confirmed its lasagne was manufactured by a third-party supplier and said all its other products had been tested and were not affected.
The company said: "We understand this 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.The company said: "We understand this 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. We would like to take this opportunity to apologise to our customers for any inconvenience caused.""We are confident that we have fully resolved this supply chain issue. We would like to take this opportunity to apologise to our customers for any inconvenience caused."
Earlier this week, French food supplier Comigel had alerted Findus and Aldi and advised them to withdraw Findus Beef Lasagne and Aldi's Today's Special Frozen Beef Lasagne and Today's Special Frozen Spaghetti Bolognese. It said all its other products had been tested and were not affected.
A statement from the British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) said it "deplores the latest reported incidents of gross contamination of some processed meat products".
"The BMPA has urged its members to be vigilant, and to review their raw material and ingredients-sourcing procedures in order to ensure that they meet their responsibilities to produce safe food and to describe and label their products accurately."
Earlier this week, Comigel had advised Findus and Aldi to withdraw 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.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 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.
Do you work in the food industry? What is your reaction to this story? Send us your comments using the form below.Do you work in the food industry? What is your reaction to this story? Send us your comments using the form below.