Horsemeat detected in canned beef

Horsemeat has been found in tinned beef that has been on sale in the UK, officials said.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) said horse DNA has been detected in the canned beef product which was manufactured in Romania.

Officials said the Food Hall Sliced Beef in Rich Gravy, sold in Home Bargains and Quality Save stores, has been withdrawn from sale.

The FSA said the presence of horse DNA was found during routine testing carried out by Lincolnshire County Council trading standards officers.

The product, which was made in January this year, was found to contain between 1% and 5% of horsemeat.

However, the tinned product did not contain any of the veterinary painkiller bute.

An FSA spokesman said: "The FSA has been informed that a batch of canned sliced beef that was found to contain horse DNA has been withdrawn from sale.

"The affected batch has been withdrawn from sale. If you have this product stored you are advised to return it to where you bought it. The affected batch has a best before date of January 2016 and a batch code of 13.04.C."

PA