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Horsemeat row: Don't dump meat, says food minister Horsemeat row: Don't dump meat, says food minister
(35 minutes later)
  
People should not throw away frozen meat products in the wake of the revelations about horsemeat in Findus lasagne, the food minister has said.People should not throw away frozen meat products in the wake of the revelations about horsemeat in Findus lasagne, the food minister has said.
David Heath advised consumers to carry on eating meat unless told otherwise.David Heath advised consumers to carry on eating meat unless told otherwise.
The Food Standards Agency has asked UK firms to test all processed beef foods, but said it did not "suspect there is any health issue with frozen food".The Food Standards Agency has asked UK firms to test all processed beef foods, but said it did not "suspect there is any health issue with frozen food".
Shadow environment secretary Mary Creagh has expressed fears that other contaminated foods may be found. Environment Secretary Owen Paterson is to hold a summit with heads of meat retailers and suppliers on Saturday.
Food Minister Mr Heath said the government's advice was "exactly that" of the FSA's.Food Minister Mr Heath said the government's advice was "exactly that" of the FSA's.
"The FSA says there is no reason to suppose there is a health risk and therefore the advice is to carry on with normal shopping habits until you are told otherwise," he told the BBC."The FSA says there is no reason to suppose there is a health risk and therefore the advice is to carry on with normal shopping habits until you are told otherwise," he told the BBC.
'Gross betrayal' But shadow environment secretary Mary Creagh has expressed fears that other contaminated foods may be found.
'Criminal activity'
Earlier this week, a third-party French supplier alerted Findus to concerns that the beef lasagne product did not "conform to specification".Earlier this week, a third-party French supplier alerted Findus to concerns that the beef lasagne product did not "conform to specification".
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) said Findus had tested the meat in 18 of its beef lasagne products and found 11 meals in which it contained between 60% and 100% horsemeat.The Food Standards Agency (FSA) said Findus had tested the meat in 18 of its beef lasagne products and found 11 meals in which it contained between 60% and 100% horsemeat.
Findus has withdrawn the meals and reiterated its apology. Findus has withdrawn the meals. Comigel, the French supplier, said it had withdrawn all products related to its supplier.
Horsemeat itself should be no more dangerous than beef and is eaten in many countries around the world.Horsemeat itself should be no more dangerous than beef and is eaten in many countries around the world.
However, there is concern around a drug given to horses - known as bute (phenylbutazone) - which is dangerous if taken by humans.However, there is concern around a drug given to horses - known as bute (phenylbutazone) - which is dangerous if taken by humans.
Decades ago it was used as a treatment for gout and arthritis, but it caused a serious blood disorder, aplastic anaemia, in rare cases.Decades ago it was used as a treatment for gout and arthritis, but it caused a serious blood disorder, aplastic anaemia, in rare cases.
While it was banned for human use, it is still used for animals. However, it is not allowed to enter the human food chain.While it was banned for human use, it is still used for animals. However, it is not allowed to enter the human food chain.
Findus has been asked to test for bute in its products.Findus has been asked to test for bute in its products.
If people have any of the affected meals lurking in their freezer, they are advised to return them to the store they were purchased from.If people have any of the affected meals lurking in their freezer, they are advised to return them to the store they were purchased from.
Comigel, the French supplier, said it had identified the meat supplier responsible for the "non-conformity issue" and had withdrawn all products related to the supplier. The FSA said it was "highly likely" criminal activity was to blame for the contamination.
Trading standards and environmental health bodies said their officers across the UK were on "high alert" following the most recent discovery of horsemeat. Andy Foster, of the Trading Standards Institute, also said deliberate fraudulent activity, not accidental contamination, could be to blame.
Andy Foster, of the Trading Standards Institute, echoed the FSA in saying deliberate fraudulent activity, not accidental contamination, could be to blame. In other developments:
He said it was a "gross betrayal" of trust.
  • Ms Creagh says she has contacted police to pass on information concerning UK companies who are potentially involved in the illegal horsemeat trade
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  • The GMB union says all hospitals, schools and meals-on-wheels services should verify that horsemeat has not been served to vulnerable people
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  • Trading standards and environmental health bodies say their officers across the UK are on "high alert"
  • Findus says it is "sorry that we have let people down", href="http://www.findus.co.uk/" >in a fresh statement
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FSA chief executive Catherine Brown told the BBC: "I have to say that the two cases of gross contamination that we see here indicates that it is highly likely there has been criminal and fraudulent activity involved. FSA chief executive Catherine Brown told the BBC: "We are demanding that food businesses conduct authenticity tests on all beef products, such as beefburgers, meatballs and lasagne, and provide the results to the FSA."
"We are demanding that food businesses conduct authenticity tests on all beef products, such as beefburgers, meatballs and lasagne, and provide the results to the FSA."
The FSA's website advises consumers: "There is no reason to suspect that there's any health issue with frozen food in general, and we wouldn't advise people to stop eating it."The FSA's website advises consumers: "There is no reason to suspect that there's any health issue with frozen food in general, and we wouldn't advise people to stop eating it."
Peter Kendall, president of the National Farmers' Union, said farmers who had suffered from food scares in the past were "furious" over the horsemeat revelations. href="/news/special/shared/slideshow/css/slideshow.css?cachebuster=cb000000006" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" /> href='#prev' class="ss_prev ss_button ss_button_disabled">previous slide href='#next' class="ss_next ss_button ss_button_disabled">next slide
"Why? Because we've raised our game. We go through lots of hoops now, we have lots of regulatory burdens to face. As farmers we've set up our own voluntary traceability scheme as independent inspection," he said. Peter Kendall, president of the National Farmers' Union, said farmers who had suffered from food scares in the past were "furious" over the horsemeat revelations because they had already "raised their game".
He urged consumers to buy British meat to be sure of what they are eating.He urged consumers to buy British meat to be sure of what they are eating.
Findus is the latest company to be caught up in the controversy surrounding contamination of meat products, which has affected firms in the UK, Irish Republic, Poland and France.Findus is the latest company to be caught up in the controversy surrounding contamination of meat products, which has affected firms in the UK, Irish Republic, Poland and France.
Last month, Irish food inspectors announced they had found horsemeat in some burgers stocked by a number of UK supermarket chains, including Tesco, Iceland and Lidl.Last month, Irish food inspectors announced they had found horsemeat in some burgers stocked by a number of UK supermarket chains, including Tesco, Iceland and Lidl.
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The shadow environment secretary said she had contacted the police to pass on information she has received concerning UK companies who are potentially involved in the illegal horsemeat trade.
She earlier expressed fears there were further revelations to come from the food industry.
"What we have had over the last four weeks is a constant drip, drip, drip of revelations from the food industry, from the Food Standards Agency, and what I am worried about is that the more they are testing for horse, the more they are finding," Ms Creagh said.
She suggested further guidance was needed on whether people should eat other processed foods labelled as containing beef.
"I certainly wouldn't, but I'm waiting for the government, the experts, the scientists, to tell us and issue proper clear advice for consumers," she said.
"It's simply not good enough for ministers to sit at their desks and pretend this isn't happening."
Mr Heath said the FSA was undertaking the "biggest testing of beef products that has ever taken place" in order to offer reassurance.
Earlier, Conservative MP Anne McIntosh suggested she would now no longer eat a beef meal from her freezer.
When Mr Heath was asked if he had stopped eating processed meat, he said: "I see no reason to."
'Very shocking'
Prime Minister David Cameron, speaking in Brussels, described the latest revelations as "very shocking" and "completely unacceptable".
"The FSA has to do everything it can and retailers have to do everything they can to make sure the food they sell is accurately labelled," he said.
On Thursday, Environment Secretary Owen Paterson said the government was working closely with businesses to "root out any illegal activity" and enforce regulations.
The French authorities have been slow to react. But today the French Ministry of Agriculture did finally issue a statement. It considers the issue "a matter of criminal fraud" and the authorities will be investigating.The French authorities have been slow to react. But today the French Ministry of Agriculture did finally issue a statement. It considers the issue "a matter of criminal fraud" and the authorities will be investigating.
The question - as yet unanswered - is how horsemeat ended up in the beef chain. Was there confusion between the two meats - beef and horse - that were processed in the same plant? Or, as is more likely, was Comigel duped by a third party supplier?The question - as yet unanswered - is how horsemeat ended up in the beef chain. Was there confusion between the two meats - beef and horse - that were processed in the same plant? Or, as is more likely, was Comigel duped by a third party supplier?
There is also a wider issue for the European authorities. The rules on labelling for meat products are fairly straightforward. But the rules are less clear on the provenance of meat when it comes to the ingredients of processed products. And food analysts are now calling for a review.There is also a wider issue for the European authorities. The rules on labelling for meat products are fairly straightforward. But the rules are less clear on the provenance of meat when it comes to the ingredients of processed products. And food analysts are now calling for a review.
Since Comigel also supplies the Benelux, Scandinavian and Eastern Bloc supermarket chains, this is fast becoming a European problem.Since Comigel also supplies the Benelux, Scandinavian and Eastern Bloc supermarket chains, this is fast becoming a European problem.
Horsemeat may not pose a significant risk to humans but the health of European food processing is very much open to question.Horsemeat may not pose a significant risk to humans but the health of European food processing is very much open to question.
Police in the UK and Europe were involved in the investigations into the contaminated products, the FSA said. Ms Creagh expressed fears there were further revelations to come from the food industry.
In a statement, the French Ministry of Agriculture said: "As far as we're concerned, this is an issue of fraud rather than food safety. For us, the most important thing in this case is the lack of transparency, which constitutes fraud." "What we have had over the last four weeks is a constant drip, drip, drip of revelations from the food industry, from the Food Standards Agency, and what I am worried about is that the more they are testing for horse, the more they are finding," Ms Creagh said.
Findus said it was "sorry that we have let people down". She suggested further guidance was needed on whether people should eat other processed foods labelled as containing beef.
All its other products had been tested and were not affected, it said. Mr Heath said the FSA was undertaking the "biggest testing of beef products that has ever taken place" in order to offer reassurance.
"We are acting to make sure this cannot happen again," Findus said. Prime Minister David Cameron, speaking in Brussels, described the latest revelations as "very shocking" and "completely unacceptable".
A statement from the British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) said it "deplores the latest reported incidents of gross contamination of some processed meat products".A statement from the British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) said it "deplores the latest reported incidents of gross contamination of some processed meat products".
"The BMPA has urged its members to be vigilant, and to review their raw material and ingredients-sourcing procedures in order to ensure that they meet their responsibilities to produce safe food and to describe and label their products accurately." It urged members to review their raw material and ingredients-sourcing procedures.
The supermarket chain Aldi was also advised to withdraw its Today's Special Frozen Beef Lasagne and Today's Special Frozen Spaghetti Bolognese by French supplier Comigel.The supermarket chain Aldi was also advised to withdraw its Today's Special Frozen Beef Lasagne and Today's Special Frozen Spaghetti Bolognese by French supplier Comigel.
An Aldi spokesman said the meals had been withdrawn immediately and it was carrying out its own investigations.An Aldi spokesman said the meals had been withdrawn immediately and it was carrying out its own investigations.
"The products will remain withdrawn from sale until we are confident that the meat content complies with the specification presented to us," he said, adding that customers could claim refunds by returning packaged products.