Dutch officials contacted in burger inquiry

Dutch food safety watchdogs have been drafted in as part of the investigation into the contamination of Irish beef burgers with horsemeat, in a move that places a Dutch company at the centre of the probe.

Roel Vincken, senior press officer at the Dutch food safety agency, the NVWA, confirmed the Food Safety Authority of Ireland had contacted it yesterday afternoon.

“We are taking part in the investigation now,” Mr Vincken said, adding that research had to be done and no conclusions should be drawn.