Catering firm admits burgers served in schools tested positive for horse DNA
The firm, Compass, described the situation as “totally unacceptable” and issued an “unreserved” apology to anyone affected.
The news came as Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney outlined plans at home and across Europe to tackle the growing controversy, and as Dutch health safety chiefs raided a meat processing plant in the Netherlands.
The unnamed company in North Brabant province is suspected of processing horsemeat from Holland and Ireland and then mixing it with beef and labelling it ‘pure’ beef.
Elsewhere, supermarket chain Asda said it had withdrawn bolognese sauce supplied to it by Greencore, whose chief executive is the brother of Mr Coveney.
Last night the minister said another firm, QK Cold Stores in Naas, had tested frozen beef trimmings from Poland and some had tested positive for equine DNA. The consignments were either returned to Poland or are being held in cold storage. Mr Coveney said:
*DNA testing of meat will now be routine across retail, catering and processing sectors;
*200 samples already tested have been negative for equine DNA, while five other samples tested positive but were linked to products previously identified as a problem;
*The FSAI will apply a new testing regime for horsemeat.
