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Horsemeat: Pembrokeshire and Cardiff withdraw meals after test shows possible contamination Horsemeat: Pembrokeshire, Cardiff and Bridgend withdraw meals over contamination fears
(35 minutes later)
Cardiff council has followed Pembrokeshire in withdrawing some meat products from schools and care homes amid fears of horsemeat contamination. Three councils have withdrawn some meat products from schools and care homes amid fears of horsemeat contamination.
Meat supplied by Welsh Bros Ltd to a consortium of 16 authorities including the two councils is suspected to have horsemeat present after tests. Meat supplied by Welsh Bros Ltd, of Newport, south Wales, to a consortium of 16 authorities is suspected to have horsemeat present after tests.
Welsh Bros said it was shocked but believed it was an isolated incident. Pembrokeshire, Cardiff and Bridgend councils say they have taken the action as a precaution.
Pembrokeshire council said it had received assurances from its other suppliers that meats were traceable. Welsh Bros said it had been let down by a non-Welsh firm and believed it was an isolated incident.
Pembrokeshire withdrew all mince products from schools, care homes and day centres. Pembrokeshire council said on Wednesday it was withdrawing all mince products from schools, care homes and day centres.
Cardiff council said it had decided to withdraw all beef food products sourced from Welsh Bros from all its schools, leisure centres, care homes and other council catering outlets. The council said it had received assurances from its other suppliers that meats were traceable.
Alan Heycock, managing director of the company based in Newport, south Wales, said: "We do our best to promote quality British products". Cardiff council then followed suit saying it had decided to withdraw all beef food products sourced from Welsh Bros from all its schools, leisure centres, care homes and other council catering outlets.
It said no products had generated a positive result so far but "intensive sampling and testing" would continue.
Bridgend then said it had stopped using frozen mince beef from the supplier as a precautionary measure.
Alan Heycock, managing director of Welsh Bros, said: "We do our best to promote quality British products".
He said they had been let down by a non-Welsh company, adding: "We received an e-mail about this last night. A test came back positive. We haven't seen the certificate yet.He said they had been let down by a non-Welsh company, adding: "We received an e-mail about this last night. A test came back positive. We haven't seen the certificate yet.
"This is all under investigation with trading standards now and we are waiting for further information"."This is all under investigation with trading standards now and we are waiting for further information".
The meat involved was distributed in December 2012.The meat involved was distributed in December 2012.
"We're very busy contacting our customers now and letting them know," added Mr Heycock."We're very busy contacting our customers now and letting them know," added Mr Heycock.
The company later issued a formal statement saying a sample of meat had "potentially" tested positive for horsemeat but the company had taken the decision to inform customers and withdraw the product immediately.The company later issued a formal statement saying a sample of meat had "potentially" tested positive for horsemeat but the company had taken the decision to inform customers and withdraw the product immediately.
The statement said: "The batch affected was produced nearly three months ago. Welsh Bros Foods did have a clear test result for frozen free flow minced beef on 17.01.13. We submitted these samples when the horse meat scandal first broke in January. The statement said: "The batch affected was produced nearly three months ago. Welsh Bros Foods did have a clear test result for frozen free flow minced beef on 17.01.13. We submitted these samples when the horsemeat scandal first broke in January.
"We have since submitted further samples which we are still awaiting test results for."We have since submitted further samples which we are still awaiting test results for.
"Welsh Bros has been provided with test results from other authorities who have tested more recent batches of our free flow minced beef and these have been reported as being clear."Welsh Bros has been provided with test results from other authorities who have tested more recent batches of our free flow minced beef and these have been reported as being clear.
"We therefore believe at this stage that this is an isolated incident."We therefore believe at this stage that this is an isolated incident.
"We have today issued a withdraw notice with the Food Standards Agency for frozen free flow minced beef produced between 13.12.12 which was the pack date of the suspect test and 17.01.13 which is the date we achieved our clear test result.""We have today issued a withdraw notice with the Food Standards Agency for frozen free flow minced beef produced between 13.12.12 which was the pack date of the suspect test and 17.01.13 which is the date we achieved our clear test result."
Food safety visitsFood safety visits
Pembrokeshire council said the mince in question may have been supplied to schools and council-run residential homes and day centres within the county.Pembrokeshire council said the mince in question may have been supplied to schools and council-run residential homes and day centres within the county.
In a separate development, the council said it had also been made aware that frozen beef products supplied to Sodexho, which provides catering services to a private finance initiative school in Pembroke Dock, had also tested positive for horsemeat. Cardiff council leader Heather Joyce said: "I have no hesitation in taking this precautionary step whilst testing continues as it is vital that we do everything possible to identify whether there is any possibility of horsemeat DNA being in any of the products we use, and this process continues.
"It is important that we move as quickly as possible to respond to the situation as it develops.
"I am pleased that so far we have not had any positive results for products we have tested for horse DNA but we have to continue to test and remain vigilant."
Bridgend council said in a statement: "While to date no health issues have been identified within Bridgend county borough, we have stopped using frozen mince beef provided by one supplier as a precautionary measure."
In a separate development, Pembrokeshire council said it had also been made aware that frozen beef products supplied to Sodexho, which provides catering services to a private finance initiative school in Pembroke Dock, had also tested positive for horsemeat.
Sodexho has had a private catering contract with the school since it opened. Its meat was not bought through the Welsh Purchasing Consortium (WPC) which comprises the 16 local authorities in south, mid and west Wales, including Pembrokeshire.Sodexho has had a private catering contract with the school since it opened. Its meat was not bought through the Welsh Purchasing Consortium (WPC) which comprises the 16 local authorities in south, mid and west Wales, including Pembrokeshire.
Sodexho has withdrawn all frozen beef products from its UK catering operations.Sodexho has withdrawn all frozen beef products from its UK catering operations.
Meanwhile the council said officers from Pembrokeshire's food safety and standards team were prioritising visits to all cold stores, approved meat products and meat processing premises which had not been inspected in the last 12 months to check relevant documentation, labelling and traceability in line with Food Standards Agency (FSA) advice.Meanwhile the council said officers from Pembrokeshire's food safety and standards team were prioritising visits to all cold stores, approved meat products and meat processing premises which had not been inspected in the last 12 months to check relevant documentation, labelling and traceability in line with Food Standards Agency (FSA) advice.
Caerphilly council, which manages purchasing for the WPC, said it was contacting the other councils to see if they were affected by the horsemeat discovery.Caerphilly council, which manages purchasing for the WPC, said it was contacting the other councils to see if they were affected by the horsemeat discovery.
Ceredigion council, although a member of the consortium, said it had never purchased any meat products from Welsh Bros of Newport. The authority said Castell Howell Ltd supplied all council establishments with fresh meat.Ceredigion council, although a member of the consortium, said it had never purchased any meat products from Welsh Bros of Newport. The authority said Castell Howell Ltd supplied all council establishments with fresh meat.
Blaenau Gwent council said Welsh Bros did not supply its premises - or Torfaen and Monmouthshire.
Conservative rural affairs spokeswoman Antoinette Sandbach AM called for quicker action by ministers to reassure the public.Conservative rural affairs spokeswoman Antoinette Sandbach AM called for quicker action by ministers to reassure the public.
"It is absolutely vital that the government responds to this swiftly and works closely with council officials and the FSA," she said."It is absolutely vital that the government responds to this swiftly and works closely with council officials and the FSA," she said.
"Labour's minister for food has been slow to react to the horsemeat scandal and now is the time to put that right. Meanwhile, Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and European Programmes Alun Davies launched a new nationwide campaign promoting Welsh beef and lamb on Wednesday.
"With consumer confidence taking another knock, it is more important than ever for the government to ensure promotion of the local supply chain and local butchers." "What consumers want is clear labelling, so that consumers can make informed choices on their food purchases," he said.
"This is what the campaign aims to achieve; a simple statement of fact that if shoppers look for the Welsh beef, Welsh lamb and EU protected geographical indication (PGI) logos then that is what they will get."