Thread: Horsemeat discovered in burgers sold by four British supermarkets

If you think horse meat in the burgers is a problem, pork was found in halal pastries served to Muslim prisoners in HM prisons UK.

'Halal pork' supplier named

Northern Ireland-based McColgan Quality Foods revealed as source of halal products containing pork.

• The Guardian, Sunday 3 February 2013 18.47 GMT

McColgan was named as the source of 'the very small number of halal savoury beef pastry products' found to contain pork DNA that 3663 supplied to prisons. Photograph: Graham Barclay/Bloomberg News

The supplier of halal food containing traces of pig DNA has been named as McColgan Quality Foods Limited.


Food distributing company 3663 identified the Northern Ireland-based firm as the source of "the very small number of halal savoury beef pastry products" found to contain pork DNA that it supplied to prisons.
In a statement, 3663 confirmed that all halal products from the manufacturer had been withdrawn from supply.
The statement said it "would like to clarify that the very small number of halal savoury beef pastry products that have been withdrawn from supply were only ever distributed to custodial establishments".
"The products in question are from one particular food manufacturer, McColgan Quality Foods Limited, and have not been distributed to any other customer. All halal products from this manufacturer have been withdrawn," the company said.
Islamic law forbids the consumption of pork.


3663 said it was "shocked" and described as "wholly unacceptable" that some of the halal products it supplied were found to contain pork DNA.
On an Invest Northern Ireland-backed website, McColgan Quality Foods – based in Strabane, County Tyrone – is said to be "approved for the preparation of halal product".

The company has removed all halal products from McColgan from the supply chain and said it would not source any further halal products from the company.

"McColgan's has already taken swift measures to identify, isolate and withdraw all of the products which are supplied to the Prison Service while an investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding this deeply regrettable and unforeseen incident takes place."

Excerpts from;
'Halal pork' supplier named | World news | The Guardian

More on this - it's turning into a huge story.. (products from France)

Updated: 08 February 2013 01:22 | By pa.press.net
Tests ordered in horse meat scandal





Food companies will be ordered to test their beef products after some Findus beef lasagnes were found to contain up to 100% horse meat, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) said.


It was "highly likely" that criminal activity was to blame for the contamination, the agency added, as consumers were warned not to eat the meals.
Findus UK tested 18 of its beef lasagne products and found 11 contained in the range of 60% to 100% horse meat, the FSA said.


The frozen food company apologised to customers and said refunds would offered to anyone who bought the affected lasagne products, which were made by French food supplier Comigel.


Retail giant Tesco and discount chain Aldi have withdrawn a range of ready meals produced by Comigel over fears that they contained contaminated meat.


Catherine Brown, chief executive of the FSA, told BBC News: "This is an appalling situation. I have to say that that the two cases of gross contamination that we see here indicates that it is highly likely there has been criminal and fraudulent activity involved."


She added: "We are demanding that food businesses conduct authenticity tests on all beef products, such as beef burgers, meatballs and lasagne, and provide the results to the FSA. The tests will be for the presence of significant levels of horse meat."


There is no evidence to suggest the horse meat found is a food safety risk, the FSA said. But the agency confirmed tests have been ordered on the lasagne for the veterinary drug phenylbutazone or "bute", which is banned from entering the food chain.


A Findus UK spokesman said: "We understand this it is a very sensitive subject for consumers and we would like to reassure you we have reacted immediately. We do not believe this to be a food safety issue. We are confident that we have fully resolved this supply chain issue. Fully compliant beef lasagne will be in stores again soon.


Findus UK withdrew its 320g, 360g and 500g lasagne meals from supermarket shelves as a precautionary measure earlier this week. It came after Comigel alerted Findus and Aldi that their products "do not conform to specification".