Nestle finds horsemeat in beef pasta meals
Updated: 2013-02-19 15:56
(Agencies)
|
|||||||||||
* Products withdrawn from sale in Italy and Spain
* Nestle latest company affected in spreading scandal
* Delivery suspended of products with beef from German firm
LONDON - Nestle, the world's biggest food company, has removed beef pasta meals from sale in Italy and Spain after finding traces of horse DNA.
The discovery of horsemeat in products labelled as beef has spread across Europe since last month, prompting product withdrawals, consumer anger and government investigations into the continent's complex food-processing chains.
Swiss-based Nestle, which just last week said its products had not been affected by the scandal, said its tests had found more than 1 percent horse DNA in two products.
"We have informed the authorities accordingly," Nestle said in a statement on Monday. "There is no food safety issue."
Nestle withdrew two chilled pasta products, Buitoni Beef Ravioli and Beef Tortellini, in Italy and Spain,
Nestle was suspending deliveries of all products made using beef from a German subcontractor to one of its suppliers, Nestle said.
Governments across Europe have stressed that horsemeat poses little or no health risk, although some carcasses have been found tainted with a painkiller banned for human consumption.
But the scandal has damaged the confidence of consumers in supermarkets and fast food chains since horsemeat was first identified in Irish beefburgers.
Retailer Lidl said on Monday it had withdrawn products from its stores in Finland and Sweden after finding traces of horsemeat.
Related Stories
Horse meat scandal spreads across Europe 2013-02-18 11:12
Horsemeat crisis sparks calls for DNA food tests in Europe 2013-02-15 07:53
Germany to investigate horsemeat scandal 2013-02-18 17:12
Horsemeat scandal: French retailers recall products 2013-02-11 10:54
France pledges sanctions in horsemeat scandal 2013-02-12 04:37
Horsemeat found in burgers was imported from Poland 2013-01-30 10:59
Today's Top News
Police continue manhunt for 2nd bombing suspect
H7N9 flu transmission studied
8% growth predicted for Q2
Nuke reactor gets foreign contract
First couple on Time's list of most influential
'Green' awareness levels drop in Beijing
Palace Museum spruces up
Trading channels 'need to broaden'
Hot Topics
Lunar probe , China growth forecasts, Emission rules get tougher, China seen through 'colored lens', International board,
Editor's Picks
Liaoning: China's oceangoing giant |
Poultry industry under pressure |
'Spring' in the air for NGOs? |
Boy set to drive Chinese golf |
Latest technology gets people talking |
Firms crave cyber connection |