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Nestle removes beef pasta meals after finding horsemeat Nestle removes beef pasta meals after finding horsemeat
(35 minutes later)
Nestle, the world's biggest food company, has removed beef pasta meals from shelves in Italy and Spain after tests revealed traces of horse DNA.Nestle, the world's biggest food company, has removed beef pasta meals from shelves in Italy and Spain after tests revealed traces of horse DNA.
The Swiss-based firm has halted deliveries of products containing meat from a German supplier.The Swiss-based firm has halted deliveries of products containing meat from a German supplier.
Nestle is the latest in a string of major food producers to find traces of horsemeat in beef meals.Nestle is the latest in a string of major food producers to find traces of horsemeat in beef meals.
A spokesman for the company said levels of horse DNA were very low but above 1%.A spokesman for the company said levels of horse DNA were very low but above 1%.
Last week the firm said its products did not contain horsemeat.Last week the firm said its products did not contain horsemeat.
Nestle withdrew two chilled pasta products, Buitoni Beef Ravioli and Beef Tortellini, in Italy and Spain.Nestle withdrew two chilled pasta products, Buitoni Beef Ravioli and Beef Tortellini, in Italy and Spain.
Lasagnes a la Bolognaise Gourmandes, a frozen product for catering businesses produced in France, will also be withdrawn.Lasagnes a la Bolognaise Gourmandes, a frozen product for catering businesses produced in France, will also be withdrawn.
A spokesman for the company told the BBC that Nestle had identified a problem with a supplier from Germany. The href="http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/43496dda-79fa-11e2-b377-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2LIRORGPb" title="Financial Times story on Nestle" >Financial Times has identified the supplier as HJ Schypke. A spokesman for the company told the BBC that Nestle had identified a problem with a supplier from Germany.
Nestle would now be running tests on all its beef, he added. A href="http://www.nestle.com/media/statements/supplier-mislabeled-beef-horse-meat" title="Nestle statement" >statement on the Nestle website identifies the supplier as HJ Schypke, a sub-contractor of JBS Toledo, a major meat processing company.
Nestle would now be running tests on all its beef, the spokesman said.
The widening scandal over mislabelled horsemeat has affected at least 12 European countries.The widening scandal over mislabelled horsemeat has affected at least 12 European countries.
Earlier on Monday, France partially lifted a production ban for meat processing firm Spanghero, one of the companies at the heart of the scandal.Earlier on Monday, France partially lifted a production ban for meat processing firm Spanghero, one of the companies at the heart of the scandal.
The French government revoked its licence last week over suspicions that Spanghero knowingly sold horsemeat labelled as beef, an allegation the company rejects.The French government revoked its licence last week over suspicions that Spanghero knowingly sold horsemeat labelled as beef, an allegation the company rejects.
The French authorities said that unwitting workers should not be penalised.The French authorities said that unwitting workers should not be penalised.
As a result the firm will be allowed to produce minced meat, sausages and ready-to-eat meals, but not to stock frozen meat.As a result the firm will be allowed to produce minced meat, sausages and ready-to-eat meals, but not to stock frozen meat.
Meanwhile the UK and Germany have also both pledged to step up testing of frozen food products.Meanwhile the UK and Germany have also both pledged to step up testing of frozen food products.
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.

Factory orders meat

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

Subcontractor used

Spanghero contacts a subcontractor in Cyprus to source the meat.

Subcontractor enlists trader

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

Trader orders from Romania

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

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.

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.

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..