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Horsemeat: Tests find no new products involved - FSA Horsemeat: Compass and Whitbread find horse DNA in products
(35 minutes later)
The Food Standards Agency says 29 tests on food products found more than 1% horsemeat.  
Of 2,501 tests conducted, 2,472 have come back negative, the FSA says. Catering giant Compass Group and Whitbread, one of Britain's largest hotel chains, have found horse DNA in products sold as beef, it has emerged.
It also adds that the figure of 29 includes a number of multiple positive results on seven products which had already been identified and withdrawn. Horsemeat has also been found in cottage pies supplied to 47 schools in Lancashire - they have been withdrawn.
But tests by pubs owner Whitbread and school supplier Compass Group found horse DNA in some products, but other retailers say their tests are clear. But href="http://www.food.gov.uk/" >the Food Standards Agency says that after 2,501 fresh tests no new products have been identified as containing more than 1% horsemeat.
Meanwhile, UK retailers have rejected government criticism they "remained silent" over the horsemeat crisis, saying they shared shoppers' "anger and outrage". It said the 29 positive results were on seven previously withdrawn products.
The tests on the presence of horsemeat in processed meals were ordered by href="http://www.food.gov.uk/" >the Food Standards Agency (FSA). FSA chief executive Catherine Brown said she remained "confident" that the testing was the right way to address the issue.
Its chief executive, Catherine Brown, said she remained "confident" that the testing was the right way to address the issue.
"It will take some time to complete the process and is costly for the industry."It will take some time to complete the process and is costly for the industry.
"But it is industry's responsibility to get this right - not the government's - and we consider that a comprehensive testing programme at all points of the supply chain and in all sectors is an essential step in addressing this issue."But it is industry's responsibility to get this right - not the government's - and we consider that a comprehensive testing programme at all points of the supply chain and in all sectors is an essential step in addressing this issue.
"Second, the results show that the overwhelming majority of beef products in this country do not contain horse. The examples we have had are totally unacceptable. But they are the exceptions."Second, the results show that the overwhelming majority of beef products in this country do not contain horse. The examples we have had are totally unacceptable. But they are the exceptions.
"And as this programme of testing and publishing results continues, and as action is taken to tackle this issue in supply chains across Europe, we will reach the point where we can say with confidence that horse meat is no longer illegally entering the UK food chain.""And as this programme of testing and publishing results continues, and as action is taken to tackle this issue in supply chains across Europe, we will reach the point where we can say with confidence that horse meat is no longer illegally entering the UK food chain."
However, it has emerged that pubs and schools have been supplied with food products that did contain horsemeat.
Whitbread, which owns Premier Inn, Beefeater Grill and Brewers Fayre, says it found horse DNA in two products - burgers supplied by food supplier Paragon and lasagne from Brakes Brothers.
And Compass Group, one of the biggest school food providers in the UK, says its tests have found between 5% and 30% horse DNA in burgers it sold in Ireland and Northern Ireland.
It says the burgers were supplied by Rangeland Foods in County Monaghan, which previously withdrew more than 9,000 burgers made for the UK market after some were found to contain horsemeat.
A spokesman for Compass said the affected burgers had been supplied to a small number of sites on both sides of the Irish border, including two colleges which Compass is not naming.
Meanwhile, UK retailers have rejected government criticism they "remained silent" over the horsemeat crisis, saying they shared shoppers' "anger and outrage".
Iceland said that all of its own brand beef products have been found to be free from horsemeat.Iceland said that all of its own brand beef products have been found to be free from horsemeat.
The Co-Operative Group said 59 of its 102 own-brand minced beef products have been tested so far, with all found to be clear of horsemeat. And Morrisons says 68 test results on its products have not found horsemeat, with more results still to come.The Co-Operative Group said 59 of its 102 own-brand minced beef products have been tested so far, with all found to be clear of horsemeat. And Morrisons says 68 test results on its products have not found horsemeat, with more results still to come.
Tesco says tests on 149 of its products are clear, and Sainsbury's say their tests show no horse adulteration. Waitrose says it has conducted about 40 tests, none of which showed the presence of horsemeat.Tesco says tests on 149 of its products are clear, and Sainsbury's say their tests show no horse adulteration. Waitrose says it has conducted about 40 tests, none of which showed the presence of horsemeat.
But Whitbread, which supplies thousands of pubs and owns Premier Inn, Beefeater Grill and Brewers Fayre, has confirmed two of its products have been found to contain horsemeat.
And Compass Group, one of the biggest school food providers in the UK, says its tests have found between 5% and 30% horse DNA in burgers it sold in Ireland and Northern Ireland.
It says the burgers were supplied by Rangeland Foods in County Monaghan, which previously withdrew more than 9,000 burgers made for the UK market after some were found to contain horsemeat.
In other developments:In other developments:
  • Cottage pie delivered to 47 schools in Lancashire has tested positive for horse DNA. The product has now been withdrawn from kitchens
  • UK police investigating allegations horsemeat was mislabelled as beef have arrested three men on suspicion of offences under the Fraud Act
  • The arrests came after the FSA said on Thursday that tests had found eight horses, killed in the UK, had tested positive for the equine painkiller bute and that six may have entered the food chain in France
  • On Friday, it emerged beefburgers containing horsemeat had been withdrawn from hospitals in Northern Ireland.
  • The French government has accused meat processing company Spanghero of knowingly selling horsemeat labelled as beef. The firm has denied the allegations, but apologised to British consumers, saying it was "tricked as well"
  • European food safety experts have met in Brussels to draw up plans to conduct DNA testing of beef products across the continent in the coming weeks
    •
  • Culture Secretary Maria Miller earlier stepped up criticism by saying retailers should not be "let off the hook" for putting wrongly labelled products on their shelves. But Labour's Mary Creagh accused ministers of being "asleep on the job"
  • The European Union has decided immediately to start testing for the presence of unlabelled horse meat in foods across the continent. Tests will also be carried out for the presence of residues of the drug phenylbutazone, used on horses but banned from entering the food chain
  • A company which provides school meals to 128 schools in Bristol - Eden Foodservice - href="/news/education-21475337" title="Horsemeat found in school dinners" >has withdrawn all of its processed beef products from its menus as a precautionary measure
    •
  • UK police investigating allegations horsemeat was mislabelled as beef have arrested three men on suspicion of offences under the Fraud Act
  • The arrests came after the FSA said on Thursday that tests had found eight horses, killed in the UK, had tested positive for the equine painkiller bute and that six may have entered the food chain in France
  • On Friday, it emerged beefburgers containing horsemeat had been withdrawn from hospitals in Northern Ireland.
  • The French government has accused meat processing company Spanghero of knowingly selling horsemeat labelled as beef. The firm has denied the allegations, but apologised to British consumers, saying it was "tricked as well"
  • Culture Secretary Maria Miller earlier stepped up criticism by saying retailers should not be "let off the hook" for putting wrongly labelled products on their shelves. But Labour's Mary Creagh accused ministers of being "asleep on the job"
In their letter issued on Friday the group of 11 food suppliers, including Tesco and Asda, said: "We can't accept a situation where the trust customers place in us is being compromised by fraudulent activity or even as alleged, an international criminal conspiracy. A group of 11 food suppliers, including Tesco and Asda, issued a letter on Friday stating that they shared shoppers' "anger and outrage".
It said: "We can't accept a situation where the trust customers place in us is being compromised by fraudulent activity or even as alleged, an international criminal conspiracy.
"We will do whatever it takes to restore public confidence in the food they buy and eat.""We will do whatever it takes to restore public confidence in the food they buy and eat."
The letter was signed by chief executive of Tesco, Philip Clarke, Asda Stores boss, Andy Clarke, the chief executive of J Sainsbury, Justin King, and Dalton Philips, chief executive of Wm Morrison Supermarkets, among others.The letter was signed by chief executive of Tesco, Philip Clarke, Asda Stores boss, Andy Clarke, the chief executive of J Sainsbury, Justin King, and Dalton Philips, chief executive of Wm Morrison Supermarkets, among others.
Number 10 said it was pleased retailers had finally spoken out in public, following the publication of their letter.Number 10 said it was pleased retailers had finally spoken out in public, following the publication of their letter.
A Downing Street source said: "Consumer confidence is one of the things that has been missing and that needs the retailers to explain themselves, and what they have been doing."A Downing Street source said: "Consumer confidence is one of the things that has been missing and that needs the retailers to explain themselves, and what they have been doing."
Last month, Irish food inspectors said they had found horsemeat in beefburgers made by firms in the Irish Republic and the UK, and sold by a number of UK supermarket chains, including Tesco, Iceland, Aldi and Lidl.Last month, Irish food inspectors said they had found horsemeat in beefburgers made by firms in the Irish Republic and the UK, and sold by a number of UK supermarket chains, including Tesco, Iceland, Aldi and Lidl.
Since then, a growing number of UK retailers have recalled processed beef products found to contain horse DNA.Since then, a growing number of UK retailers have recalled processed beef products found to contain horse DNA.
Some shops have already recalled products found to be adulterated, including Asda, which withdrew a beef Bolognese sauce on Thursday - the first fresh beef product to be involved.Some shops have already recalled products found to be adulterated, including Asda, which withdrew a beef Bolognese sauce on Thursday - the first fresh beef product to be involved.
Aldi, Tesco and Findus have also withdrawn some beef-based ready meals.Aldi, Tesco and Findus have also withdrawn some beef-based ready meals.
CLICKABLE 8. Processors1. Comigel: Food processor3. Spanghero: Meat processor2. Tavola: Factory4. Subcontractor5. Trader6. Abattoirs7. Supermarkets

French food producer makes order

CLICKABLE 8. Processors1. Comigel: Food processor3. Spanghero: Meat processor2. Tavola: Factory4. Subcontractor5. Trader6. Abattoirs7. Supermarkets

French food producer makes order

Comigel HQ in Metz, north-east France, asks its subsidiary, Tavola in Luxembourg, to make food products - including beef lasagne for Findus.Comigel HQ in Metz, north-east France, asks its subsidiary, Tavola in Luxembourg, to make food products - including beef lasagne for Findus.

Factory orders meat

Factory orders meat

The Tavola factory orders the meat from Spanghero in the south of France.The Tavola factory orders the meat from Spanghero in the south of France.

Subcontractor used

Subcontractor used

Spanghero contacts a subcontractor in Cyprus to source the meat.Spanghero contacts a subcontractor in Cyprus to source the meat.

Subcontractor enlists trader

Subcontractor enlists trader

The Cypriot subcontractor in turn contacts a trader in the Netherlands.The Cypriot subcontractor in turn contacts a trader in the Netherlands.

Trader orders from Romania

Trader orders from Romania

The trader in the Netherlands places an order for meat with abattoirs in Romania.The trader in the Netherlands places an order for meat with abattoirs in Romania.

Abattoirs send meat to France

Abattoirs send meat to France

The meat from the abattoirs travels to Spanghero in France. However, Romania rejects claims that it was responsible for wrongly describing the horsemeat from its abattoirs as beef. Horsemeat is always labelled as such, they say. The Romanian authorities claim records show orders had been for horse carcass - easily distinguishable from beef.The meat from the abattoirs travels to Spanghero in France. However, Romania rejects claims that it was responsible for wrongly describing the horsemeat from its abattoirs as beef. Horsemeat is always labelled as such, they say. The Romanian authorities claim records show orders had been for horse carcass - easily distinguishable from beef.

Meat used to make products

Meat used to make products

Spanghero sends the meat to the Comigel subsidiary’s factory in Luxembourg before the finished products are supplied to Findus and retailers across Europe, including the UK. The president of Comigel says the company was unaware the meat was coming from abroad.Spanghero sends the meat to the Comigel subsidiary’s factory in Luxembourg before the finished products are supplied to Findus and retailers across Europe, including the UK. The president of Comigel says the company was unaware the meat was coming from abroad.

Horsemeat found in Ireland and UK

Horsemeat found in Ireland and UK

Tests by Irish authorities have found equine DNA in beefburgers made by firms in the Irish Republic and the UK. Traces of horsemeat have also been found in stored meat at another plant in Ireland and one in Northern Ireland. In mainland Britain, police and officials probing alleged horsemeat mislabelling have carried out raids at a slaughterhouse in West Yorkshire and a meat firm near Aberystwyth. Three men were later arrested on suspicion of offences under the Fraud Act..Tests by Irish authorities have found equine DNA in beefburgers made by firms in the Irish Republic and the UK. Traces of horsemeat have also been found in stored meat at another plant in Ireland and one in Northern Ireland. In mainland Britain, police and officials probing alleged horsemeat mislabelling have carried out raids at a slaughterhouse in West Yorkshire and a meat firm near Aberystwyth. Three men were later arrested on suspicion of offences under the Fraud Act..