Food giant Nestle has stopped the deliveries of all its products that have beef from a German supplier because of traces of horse DNA in the meat. This is according to the web site of the Swiss-based food company.
Nestle also announced that it will be recalling two chilled pasta products, Beef Tortellini and Buitoni Beef Ravioli, from store shelves in Spain and Italy. Another item to be recalled is a lasagna product sold to French catering businesses.
According to the statement released by Nestle, their tests showed traces of horse DNA in two products made from beef that came from H.J. Schypke. The levels were above the one percent threshold allowed by the UK’s Food Safety Agency and this indicated gross negligence or adulteration.
Unauthorized horse meat has been found in various products labeled as beef that were sold in supermarkets in Britain, Sweden, France, Germany, Ireland, and Switzerland. The meat industry was placed in the spotlight last month when investigators from Ireland found horse and pig DNA in hamburger products. The pig DNA in beef products has become a concern for Muslims and Jews, whose religion forbids the consumption of pork products. Jewish laws also ban eating horse meat.
Nestle confirmed that it tested all of its processed beef products sold in the UK and Ireland that includes two Gerber baby food products and seven Jenny Craig products and found no traces of horse DNA in them. The company added that the results of the tests will be submitted to the Food Standards Agency this week via the Food and Drink Federation.
