Horse DNA detected in canned beef from Romania
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has been informed that a batch of canned sliced beef that was found to contain horse DNA has been withdrawn from sale. Horse meat is not identified in the ingredients list and therefore it should not have been present in the product.
The canned beef was manufactured in Romania in January 2013 and supplied to Home Bargains (TJ Morris Ltd) and Quality Save stores in the UK. The 320g packs are described on the label as ‘Food Hall Sliced Beef in Rich Gravy.’
The presence of horse DNA in the product was identified during routine testing carried out by Lincolnshire County Council trading standards officers. The product was found to contain horse DNA at a level of between 1 and 5%. It also tested negative for the presence of the drug phenylbutazone, known as ‘bute’.
The affected batch has been withdrawn from sale. Customers with the product store are being advised to return it to the point of purchase. The affected batch has a ‘best before’ date of January 2016 and a batch code of 13.04.C.
Nick Martin, of traceability and product recall specialists Trace One, comments, “This latest news shows that the effect of the horsemeat scandal is ongoing and wider reaching than originally anticipated. While Home Bargains and Quality Save stores have acted swiftly, ensuring that all relevant goods are removed from the shelves, contamination of food products is an issue that retailers and their suppliers will never be free from. The reality is that retailers cannot monitor every possible ingredient at every stage of its journey. In order to ensure the sanctity of the products on their shelves, retailers must be able to undertake fast, comprehensive recalls of goods that may have been affected, thereby safeguarding their reputation and limiting consumer damage.”
