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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/mar/05/birds-eye-irish-processor-horsemeat
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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Birds Eye accuses Irish firm of supplying meat with horse DNA | Birds Eye accuses Irish firm of supplying meat with horse DNA |
| (30 days later) | |
| Birds Eye has accused an Irish meat processor of supplying meat with horse in it. | Birds Eye has accused an Irish meat processor of supplying meat with horse in it. |
| The frozen foods company said that QK Meats, in Naas, Co Kildare, sent contaminated meat to Frigilunch NV in Belgium, which used it in products supplied to Birds Eye. The Belgian company has suspended its arrangements with QK Meats. | The frozen foods company said that QK Meats, in Naas, Co Kildare, sent contaminated meat to Frigilunch NV in Belgium, which used it in products supplied to Birds Eye. The Belgian company has suspended its arrangements with QK Meats. |
| Birds Eye withdrew its Traditional Spaghetti Bolognese 340g, Shepherd's Pie 400g and Beef Lasagne 400g lines in Britain as a precaution last month. They came from Frigilunch, maker of a chili con carne for the Belgian market found to have equine DNA, which was also found in further tests on the bolognese and lasagne. | Birds Eye withdrew its Traditional Spaghetti Bolognese 340g, Shepherd's Pie 400g and Beef Lasagne 400g lines in Britain as a precaution last month. They came from Frigilunch, maker of a chili con carne for the Belgian market found to have equine DNA, which was also found in further tests on the bolognese and lasagne. |
| Authorities in Ireland and the UK have been told of the development. A number of Irish and UK firms have been under investigation since the horsemeat scandal broke in January. | Authorities in Ireland and the UK have been told of the development. A number of Irish and UK firms have been under investigation since the horsemeat scandal broke in January. |
| A statement from Birds Eye on its website said the fact there had been a problem was unacceptable. | A statement from Birds Eye on its website said the fact there had been a problem was unacceptable. |
| "Our investigation has shown that Frigilunch NV (who supplied these products to us) was itself supplied meat with horse in it by an Irish meat processor QK Meats. Frigilunch NV's own independent tests and investigation have confirmed our findings.'' | "Our investigation has shown that Frigilunch NV (who supplied these products to us) was itself supplied meat with horse in it by an Irish meat processor QK Meats. Frigilunch NV's own independent tests and investigation have confirmed our findings.'' |
| Birds Eye had tested 250 products across Europe and confirmed three products as containing horse meat. "All other products across our beef range both sold here in the UK and in our other markets in Europe have now been given the all clear and we have submitted our test results to the FSA (UK Food Standards Agency) as requested. | Birds Eye had tested 250 products across Europe and confirmed three products as containing horse meat. "All other products across our beef range both sold here in the UK and in our other markets in Europe have now been given the all clear and we have submitted our test results to the FSA (UK Food Standards Agency) as requested. |
| "You can rest assured that all other suppliers to Birds Eye have also been given the all clear," said the statement. "We are pleased that we have now completed our investigation and been able to isolate the problem to one source." | "You can rest assured that all other suppliers to Birds Eye have also been given the all clear," said the statement. "We are pleased that we have now completed our investigation and been able to isolate the problem to one source." |
| Birds Eye said it had introduced a programme to ensure that no minced beef product could reach supermarket shelves without first having been cleared by three stages of DNA testing. | Birds Eye said it had introduced a programme to ensure that no minced beef product could reach supermarket shelves without first having been cleared by three stages of DNA testing. |
| "We feel the same as our customers do – this should never have happened, but now that it has, it is up to us to make sure we do all we can to avoid it happening again." | "We feel the same as our customers do – this should never have happened, but now that it has, it is up to us to make sure we do all we can to avoid it happening again." |
| QK Meats said it had "an exemplary record in terms of food quality and safety standards". The company had never knowingly incorporated horsemeat into any of its beef products and had launched a full investigation. | QK Meats said it had "an exemplary record in terms of food quality and safety standards". The company had never knowingly incorporated horsemeat into any of its beef products and had launched a full investigation. |
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