‘Burger firm must back up claims’

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney has dismissed reports that the beef burger found to have 29% horse content did not contain any additives sourced overseas.

He was commenting after reports that the burger at the centre of the controversy, manufactured by Silvercrest Foods for Tesco, had no content sourced from third-party continental firms.

His comments also came a day after Larry Goodman, who owns parent company ABP Food Group, told the Financial Times he would have been surprised if DNA testing had not found unwanted content in the beef burgers, such was the level of sensitivity in the testing process.