Plant suspends production as new samples test positive for horse DNA

The Monaghan plant at the centre of the burger scandal has stopped all production after the Department of Agriculture confirmed new samples contained further traces of horse DNA.

The samples were taken on Jan 15 and were from burgers manufactured in the Silvercrest Food plant between Jan 3 and 14.

Seven samples of raw ingredients were also tested, one of which tested positive for horse DNA. That sample had been sourced from another “member state” but the department did not say which country.