MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

EU begins campaign to uncover extent of branding fraud with horse meat

Main foreign suppliers of horse meat to EU are Mexico, Canada and Argentina

The European Union wide campaign to determine the extent of branding fraud in the food industry, with horse meat sold as beef, commenced on the weekend. Over 2,250 processed food items will be tested for DNA in member states.

France, Britain, Spain and Italy with the largest meat markets in the EU will have to carry out the maximum number of tests assigned to individual states: 150. Tests will also be carried out to detect other agents such as the potent horse anti-inflammatory drug Bute (Fenilbutazona).

Horse meat is an authorised food product in the European Union which has to meet certain criteria to enter the food chain. Every horse sacrificed for human consumption must have a health passport to show that the animal in question has never undergone any veterinary treatment.

Over 110.00 tons of horse meat is consumed in European Union member states each year. Thirty per cent of this is imported from countries such as Mexico, Canada and Argentina.

In Europe the main horse meat producing countries are Poland and Rumania, while it is in France, Belgium, Holland and Italy where it is most popular with consumers.

Earlier this week Swedish multinational IKEA has announced that it will be withdrawing a complete range of meat products from its food sections in stores throughout Europe over fears of horse meat presence. IKEA, better known for its line of furniture and home furnishings, said it will be withdrawing foodstuffs supplied by the company Dafgard whose meatballs are suspected of containing horse meat.

Other products withdrawn from the shelf include Viennese sausages which are on sale in IKEA stores in Spain, France, Britain, Ireland and Portugal.

The point has been stressed by authorities that the branding fraud discovered does not entail any risk to public health.