Test results on burger samples expected today

The latest round of test results on burger samples from an Irish processing plant may be released today.

The Department of Agriculture ordered the tests on products from Silvercrest Foods in Co Monaghan to quantify the percentage of horse DNA present.

Silvercrest Foods is the processing plant at the centre of the horse meat controversy last week in which the Food Safety Authority found that one of its burgers contained 29 % horse DNA.

Samples taken from the plant last week were sent to Germany and the results of tests will be released, once the department verifies the findings.

Earlier this week, fast food chain Burger King announced it is replacing Silvercrest Foods as its supplier, in a move described by the Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney as "not surprising".

Silvercrest suspended operations at its Ballybay facility last week in light of the controversy.