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Horsemeat scandal deepens as minister says bute may be in food chain Horsemeat scandal deepens as minister says bute may be in food chain
(35 minutes later)
Eight horses slaughtered for food in the UK have tested positive for the veterinary painkiller phenylbutazone, known as "bute", new tests from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) revealed. Eight horses slaughtered for food in the UK have tested positive for the veterinary painkiller phenylbutazone, known as bute, new tests from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) revealed.
Environment minister David Heath told the Commons that 206 carcasses had been tested. Six of the carcasses that tested positive may have entered the food chain in France in the last few weeks, according to the FSA, and efforts were being made to recall them. Heath said the Findus food products found to contain horse had tested negative for bute. The minister for food and agriculture, David Heath, told the Commons that 206 carcasses had been tested. Six of the carcasses that tested positive may have entered the food chain in France in the last few weeks, according to the FSA, and efforts were being made to recall them. Heath said the Findus food products found to contain horse had tested negative for bute.
The shadow environment secretary, Mary Creagh, told Heath she had raised the issue of bute three weeks ago and accused ministers of "catastrophic complacency".The shadow environment secretary, Mary Creagh, told Heath she had raised the issue of bute three weeks ago and accused ministers of "catastrophic complacency".
In July 2012 the veterinary residues committee (VRC), which advises the government, warned that it had "repeatedly expressed concern" over bute entering the food chain. In July 2012 the veterinary residues committee (VRC), which advises the government, warned that it had repeatedly expressed concern about bute entering the food chain.
The VRC said its concern was because bute had "the potential for serious adverse effects in consumers, such as blood dyscrasia [a rare but very serious, life-threatening, condition]". The VRC said bute had "the potential for serious adverse effects in consumers, such as blood dyscrasia [a rare but life-threatening condition]".
No bute is permitted in horsemeat for human consumption, but it was found in 2-5% of samples tested between 2007 and 2011, during which time only 50 tests a year were conducted. The horse passport system meant to prevent bute contamination in the 8,000 or so horses slaughtered for meat in the UK each year was not working, a member of the VRC told the Guardian.No bute is permitted in horsemeat for human consumption, but it was found in 2-5% of samples tested between 2007 and 2011, during which time only 50 tests a year were conducted. The horse passport system meant to prevent bute contamination in the 8,000 or so horses slaughtered for meat in the UK each year was not working, a member of the VRC told the Guardian.
Dame Sally Davies, the UK's chief medical officer, said: "The trace levels detected are very unlikely to have harmed any human, child or foetus." She said a person would have to eat 500-600 horsemeat burgers to get a harmful dose. Dame Sally Davies, the UK's chief medical officer, said: "The trace levels detected are very unlikely to have harmed any human, child or foetus." She said a person would have to eat more than 500 horsemeat burgers to get a harmful dose.
All food products tested for bute, including Findus lasagne and Tesco burgers, tested negative. All food products so far tested for bute, including Findus lasagne and Tesco burgers, tested negative.
The FSA tested all 206 horses slaughtered in the UK for food between 30 January and 7 February and found eight positive results for bute.The FSA tested all 206 horses slaughtered in the UK for food between 30 January and 7 February and found eight positive results for bute.
Six, all slaughtered by LJ Potter Partners at Stillmans Ltd in Taunton, Somerset, were sent to France and may have entered the human food chain. The other two, killed in Nantwich, did not leave the slaughter house. Six, all slaughtered by LJ Potter Partners at Stillmans Ltd in Taunton, Somerset, were sent to France and may have entered the human food chain. The other two, killed in Nantwich, did not leave the slaughterhouse.
The rate of bute contamination found was 6%, meaning that across a year, 540 contaminated carcasses would be expected, as 9,000 horses are killed for meat each year in the UK.The rate of bute contamination found was 6%, meaning that across a year, 540 contaminated carcasses would be expected, as 9,000 horses are killed for meat each year in the UK.
The FSA said that from now on horse carcasses would not be released from abattoirs until they had received a negative test.The FSA said that from now on horse carcasses would not be released from abattoirs until they had received a negative test.
The FSA did not test for any other possible contaminants.The FSA did not test for any other possible contaminants.
The tests were carried out in response to the scandal of horsemeat adulteration of processed food labelled as beef. The tests were carried out in response to the discovery of horsemeat in processed food labelled as beef.
The results came on the day that a committee of MPs severely criticised the government's response to the horsemeat scandal, calling it "flat-footed".The results came on the day that a committee of MPs severely criticised the government's response to the horsemeat scandal, calling it "flat-footed".
The Guardian can reveal that results of two carcasses that tested positive for bute in 2012 – out of a total of nine – were not reported to the FSA for up to seven months, a mistake that has prompted urgent investigations by the agency and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
The horsemeat is thought to have left abattoirs in Cheshire and Somerset in May and October but the positive results did not arrive at the FSA until 10 days ago. Only then did officials realise the consignments had gone months before to companies in the Netherlands and France Safety alerts were then issued to authorities in the two countries.
The FSA would not name the companies in Europe, but the meat that went to the Netherlands was tested at High Peak Meat Exports in Nantwich, Cheshire, in May – it was one of three positive tests there during the year. The other carcass was tested in Taunton in October, where a company called LJ Potter rents the Stillmans abattoir for a day a week. It had a total of six positive tests in a year. In all, 145 tests were conducted in 2012.
Under the system then in force, horsemeat was allowed to leave slaughterhouses while the tests were analysed. The results took about three weeks. This week the FSA announced it had introduced compulsory testing of all horsemeat bound for food with results delivered by a new test in 48 hours. The carcasses have to remain in abattoirs until results are known.
Test results were analysed by a part of Defra called Fera, the Food and Environment Research Agency, and were then meant to immediately be sent to another part of Defra, the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), and the FSA. The VMD told us: "The VMD is confident that the results of these bute tests it commissioned were submitted to the Food Standards Agency as soon as they were confirmed by Fera."
The food agency said it "did not receive these two results". It added that the two agencies would put in place procedures to ensure that, where necessary, "all required follow-up actions are implemented".