More tests reveal 'horsemeat'

Newport City Council’s trading standards department is working with Newport company Welsh Bros. Foods Ltd following positive test results for horsemeat.

Investigations into the source of the contamination are ongoing and a product withdrawal is being overseen.

All action being taken is in line with Food Standards Agency guidelines.

Newport schools do not use this supplier; however, investigations into whether council care homes have purchased this specific product are being carried out.

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Bridgend County Borough Council has confirmed it has stopped using frozen minced beef supplied by Newport company Welsh Bros Foods.

It comes after a sample of frozen mince from Welsh Bros Foods reportedly tested positive for horsemeat.

“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.

This follows tests carried out by a neighbouring authority on a random sample of meat from the same supplier which tested positive for the presence of horse DNA.

We are liaising closely with our partners in the Wales Purchasing Consortium and the Food Standards Agency in this matter and will be carrying out further tests.

Pembrokeshire and Cardiff Councils have confirmed they have withdrawn certain beef products from use in schools and care homes following the announcement.

Welsh Bros Foods says it is 'deeply shocked' at the reported find but believes it is an 'isolated incident'.

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Cardiff Council says it has withdrawn all Welsh Bros Foods beef products from its schools, leisure centres and care homes.

It follows news that a sample of frozen minced beef supplied by the Newport-based company has reportedly tested positive for horsemeat.

Pembrokeshire Council has also withdrawn mince from its menus following the announcement.

No products have yet tested positive for equine DNA in Cardiff, but the council says it has taken the step 'as a precaution'.

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.

Welsh Bros Foods says it is 'deeply shocked' following the reported test result but believes it is an 'isolated incident'.

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Welsh Bros Foods says it is 'deeply shocked' that a sample of its frozen minced beef has reportedly tested positive for horsemeat.

Welsh Bros Foods regrets to announce that late yesterday afternoon we were informed that a formal sample of our frozen free flow minced beef has been reported to have potentially tested positive for above 1% horse meat. We have not as yet had formal confirmation on this result; however, we have taken the decision to notify our customers of this issue immediately, and issue a withdraw notice for this product.

Welsh Bros Foods are deeply shocked by this development and are working with all relevant authorities.

The firm said the affected batch was produced nearly three months ago and other samples have reportedly tested negative for horsemeat, adding: "We therefore believe at this stage that this is an isolated incident."

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The Welsh Affairs Committee says it is 'concerned' following news that horsemeat has reportedly been found in a batch of mince produced by a supplier in Wales.

The Food Standards Agency and police are leading an investigation into this serious matter and the Committee does not want to jeopardise those investigations. We will pay close attention to how the situation develops. The Committee stands ready to conduct its own investigation if necessary.

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Pembrokeshire County Council has withdrawn mince from its menus after being told a batch of frozen minced beef has potentially tested positive for horsemeat.

The mince was supplied by Welsh Bros Foods of Newport, Gwent, and was used by the council for schools, day centres and residential homes.

The council says it has also been made aware that frozen beef products supplied to Sodexo – a company providing catering services to the authority's privately-financed initiative school in Pembroke Dock – has tested positive for horsemeat.

Sodexo has withdrawn all frozen beef products from its UK catering operations.

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People in Aberystwyth this morning had contrasting opinions on the horsemeat scandal.

Some said it showed how important it is to check what you are eating, while others said they had no problem with horsemeat, as it's safe to eat.

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Local authorities should be undertaking urgent investigations to reassure consumers that council-run food outlets have not been affected by the horsemeat scandal.

Parents will be especially keen to learn whether school canteens have inadvertently put horsemeat in meals.

A swift programme of testing can help establish the truth and hopefully reassure consumers of the quality of food being sold in Wales.

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