Horsemeat scandal: EU calls for DNA tests on beef products across Europe
A man poses holding a Findus 320g beef lasagne frozen readymeal near Sunderland on February 8, 2013. Tests confirming beef lasagne sold under the Findus brand contained up to 100 percent horsemeat sparked a wider food scare in Britain on February 8 with authorities ordering urgent tests on all beef products on sale. Findus tested 18 of its beef lasagne products manufactured by French supplier Comigel and found 11 meals containing between 60 percent and 100 percent horsemeat, the FSA said.
The European Union head has called for DNA tests on beef products across Europe, the lastest in the widening horsemeat scandal that has affected several countries already.
"I would like to see DNA testing of processed meat products during process and as finished products established as soon as possible right across every member state," said Owen Paterson, Britain's agricultural minister, according to Reuters.
"I expect the full force of the law to be brought down on anyone involved in this kind of activity," he said.
The talks are being hosted in Brussels by the EU's Health Commissioner Tonio Borg, but they were first called for by Ireland, where DNA tests found frozen beef products that contained up to 100 percent horsemeat, The Journal reported.
"This is impacting on the integrity of the food chain, which is a really significant issue for a lot of countries," said Simon Coveney, Ireland's farming minister.
"Now that we know this is a European problem, we need a European solution," he added.
Britain's National Beef Association has already called for clearer labeling of meat earlier this month, but as the investigation into the use of horsemeat, pork, and other meat in supposedly all-beef meals continues, many European countries are joining in that request, CNN reported.
However, some experts have said privately that the complexities of the meat supply chain would make that impossible, according to Reuters.
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