Katy M., Community News

Horse Meat detected in ground beef in the UK and Ireland

Ground meat labelled as beef has been tested for purity in Ireland and the UK.  In one sample, up to 30% of the tested meat was actually derived from horses.  Testing also showed that up to 85% of the meat products sold in Ireland contained minute traces of pork.  

The percentages were determined through DNA testing conducted by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI).

Some of the meat was sold as prepackaged hamburgers while other samples were in the form of meat pies or other prepared dishes.  Uncooked meat patties were also positive for non-beef sources.

Several retailers were selling the products including Tesco in the UK and the Irish chain Dunnes.

The Irish Minister for Agriculture said there was no food safety risk, but the fact that the meat was not pure as labelled was unacceptable.

The BBC quoted a statement from Prof. Alan Reilly of the FSAI made on RTE: 

"In Ireland, it is not in our culture to eat horsemeat and therefore, we do not expect to find it in a burger.  Likewise, for some religious groups or people who abstain from eating pig meat, the presence of traces of pig DNA is unacceptable."

For more details check the BBC or the Christian Science Monitor.