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Horsemeat scandal: Bute found in eight horse carcasses Horsemeat scandal: Bute found in eight horse carcasses
(about 1 hour later)
Eight horses, killed in the UK, tested positive for the painkiller bute and six may have entered the food chain in France, the Food Standards Agency said.Eight horses, killed in the UK, tested positive for the painkiller bute and six may have entered the food chain in France, the Food Standards Agency said.
Some 206 carcasses were tested, with eight found to contain phenylbutazone.
England's chief medical officer said the highest level detected was 1.9mg of bute per kg of horsemeat, which posed "very little risk to human health".England's chief medical officer said the highest level detected was 1.9mg of bute per kg of horsemeat, which posed "very little risk to human health".
Food minister David Heath said tests for bute in Findus beef products found to contain horsemeat were negative. Testing started before horsemeat was discovered in processed beef products.
The horse carcasses were tested between 30 January and 7 February. The FSA said that, of the eight which tested positive for bute, six were slaughtered at LJ Potter Partners at Stillman's in Taunton, Somerset and were exported to France. Earlier, food minister David Heath said tests on Findus beef meals found to contain horsemeat were negative.
The prime minister's spokesman said the UK was working very closely with the French authorities tracking the carcasses, which were identified on Thursday morning.
FSA rules which came into force this week mean all horsemeat in the UK should be tested for bute before it is allowed to be sold for food.
Tests on a sample of horse carcasses took place over a three-month period last year after intelligence from abattoirs suggested bute was present in the food chain. Some six per cent of the carcasses tested positive, prompting the FSA to start testing on all horse meat in January.
A total of 206 carcasses were examined between 30 January and 7 February and the eight with bute were discovered.
The FSA said six of the horses were slaughtered at LJ Potter Partners at Stillman's in Taunton, Somerset, and were exported to France, where horsemeat is regularly consumed.
The two killed at High Peak Meat Exports in Nantwich, Cheshire, did not leave the slaughterhouse and have been destroyed.The two killed at High Peak Meat Exports in Nantwich, Cheshire, did not leave the slaughterhouse and have been destroyed.
The prime minister's spokesman told reporters that the UK was working very closely with the French authorities tracking the carcasses, which were identified on Thursday morning.
He said: "Bute should not be present in horses that go into the food chain. It is incredibly important that we get to the bottom of what is happening."
The FSA said rules which came into force this week mean all horsemeat in the UK should be tested for bute before it is allowed to be sold for food.
'Meaningful results''Meaningful results'
Concerns about horsemeat first came to light on 15 January when tests by Irish authorities found horsemeat in beefburgers made by firms in Ireland and the UK and sold in supermarket chains including Tesco and Aldi. Concerns about horsemeat first came to light on 15 January when tests by Irish authorities found horsemeat in beefburgers made by firms in the Irish Republic and the UK and sold in supermarket chains including Tesco and Aldi.
Bute is not allowed to get into food as it can cause serious complications in people.
Those concerns have been eased as the levels detected were very low.
However, it seems as though horses given bute do enter the food chain and on a regular basis.
One estimate suggests 540 bute-treated horses leave UK shores each year, destined for dinner plates on Continental Europe.
While the risks may be low, the risks are still there. The Food Standards Agency says it is unacceptable for any bute to enter the food chain.
It is for this reason that it has adopted a new policy of testing all slaughtered horsemeat for bute before allowing it to be sold for food.
A growing number of UK retailers have since recalled processed beef products found to contain horsemeat. And last week the British unit of frozen foods giant Findus started to recall its beef lasagne on advice from its French supplier, Comigel, after tests showed concentrations of horsemeat.A growing number of UK retailers have since recalled processed beef products found to contain horsemeat. And last week the British unit of frozen foods giant Findus started to recall its beef lasagne on advice from its French supplier, Comigel, after tests showed concentrations of horsemeat.
Meanwhile, the href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-21453370" >European Union is urging member states to conduct random tests for horsemeat in processed beef products. In other developments:
  • A meat processing factory in the Irish Republic, Rangeland Foods in County Monaghan, has withdrawn some batches of burger products which contained beef supplied from Poland - some of which were found to contain between 5-30% horsemeat
During a briefing hosted by the Department for the Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra), chief medical officer Prof Dame Sally Davies said an individual would have to consume vast quantities of horsemeat containing bute to be at risk.During a briefing hosted by the Department for the Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra), chief medical officer Prof Dame Sally Davies said an individual would have to consume vast quantities of horsemeat containing bute to be at risk.
She said: "A person would have to eat 500-600, 100% horsemeat burgers a day to get close to consuming a human's daily dose. [The drug] passes through the system fairly quickly, so it is unlikely to build up in our bodies."She said: "A person would have to eat 500-600, 100% horsemeat burgers a day to get close to consuming a human's daily dose. [The drug] passes through the system fairly quickly, so it is unlikely to build up in our bodies."
Bute is sometimes used as a drug to treat individuals suffering from a severe form of arthritis, but in rare cases it causes a serious blood disorder known as aplastic anaemia, where the body does not make enough new blood cells.Bute is sometimes used as a drug to treat individuals suffering from a severe form of arthritis, but in rare cases it causes a serious blood disorder known as aplastic anaemia, where the body does not make enough new blood cells.
FSA chief executive Catherine Brown accused some vets and horse owners of not ensuring horse passports are kept up-to-date, leading to bute-treated horses ending up in the food chain.FSA chief executive Catherine Brown accused some vets and horse owners of not ensuring horse passports are kept up-to-date, leading to bute-treated horses ending up in the food chain.
She said: "If both these people have done the right thing, horses with bute in don't make their way into the food chain. Someone has always broken the rules."
'Catastrophic complacency''Catastrophic complacency'
Responding earlier to an urgent question in the House of Commons, Mr Heath said that retailers and suppliers were "on course" to provide "meaningful results" on product-testing on Friday. Responding earlier to an urgent question in the House of Commons, food minister David Heath said that retailers and suppliers were "on course" to provide "meaningful results" on testing of beef products on Friday.
He confirmed that tests on Findus products had revealed no trace of bute. Findus withdrew its beef lasagne from sale after tests found it to contain up to 100% horsemeat.He confirmed that tests on Findus products had revealed no trace of bute. Findus withdrew its beef lasagne from sale after tests found it to contain up to 100% horsemeat.
Shadow environment secretary Mary Creagh - who tabled the Commons question - went on to accuse the government of complacency over the danger of bute entering the human food chain.Shadow environment secretary Mary Creagh - who tabled the Commons question - went on to accuse the government of complacency over the danger of bute entering the human food chain.
Ms Creagh first raised concerns in the House about bute contamination in January. She first raised concerns in the House about bute contamination in January.
An earlier report from the Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs committee called for the FSA to have stronger powers to force meat producers to carry out testing.
Committee chairman Anne McIntosh told the BBC: "It is surprising to learn that [the FSA] can request testing by producers to be performed, but they don't currently have the powers to require testing to be performed. That would be one change that we would welcome."
In Ireland another meat processing factory has withdrawn some batches of burger products which contained beef supplied from Poland.
Rangeland Foods in County Monaghan said some of the food tested positive up to 30% horsemeat.
The products were sold to the catering and wholesale sectors in Ireland, Britain, Spain, France, Germany and the Netherlands, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland said.
Production at Rangeland has been allowed to continue under the proviso they use only Irish-sourced beef.
Meanwhile, Aintree Racecourse has confirmed reports that the Peter Boddy Licensed Slaughterhouse in Todmorden, West Yorkshire, under investigation in the horsemeat inquiry, has the contract to remove dead Grand National racehorses for disposal purposes.Meanwhile, Aintree Racecourse has confirmed reports that the Peter Boddy Licensed Slaughterhouse in Todmorden, West Yorkshire, under investigation in the horsemeat inquiry, has the contract to remove dead Grand National racehorses for disposal purposes.
But it said it was illegal for horses humanely put down by injection on the racecourse to be sold for consumption and was "as confident as we possibly can be that no unfit meat ever reaches the human food chain".But it said it was illegal for horses humanely put down by injection on the racecourse to be sold for consumption and was "as confident as we possibly can be that no unfit meat ever reaches the human food chain".