Co-op and Iceland say food products all clear so far

THE Co-operative Group and Iceland say none of its beef products have so far tested positive for horse DNA.

The Manchester-based Co-op said the results of further independent tests, showed none of its beef products have tested positive for horse DNA.

So far it has received the results of tests of 76 of 102 own-brand products.

A spokesperson for The Co-operative said: “We are have commissioned stringent ongoing independent testing on our own-brand products containing minced beef, as agreed with the Food Standards Agency. 
 
“The results have shown that, so far, no products in the current batch of those being tested have been found to contain horse DNA.
 
“Our tests are still ongoing and we continue to work with both the FSA and the British Retail Consortium, and expect to issue further updates in the next few days.”

Deeside-based Iceland said all of its own- brand products containing
beef have now been checked by an independent laboratory and shown to be clear of any contamination.

Iceland chairman and chief executive Malcolm Walker said: “I am naturally
delighted with the expected results of these tests. No horsemeat has ever been found in any Iceland product.

“We sell high quality own label frozen food that is good value. We do not sell – and have never sold – “white pack” economy products. Most Iceland ready meals are manufactured in our own factory, which uses British beef supplied by our own meat processing plant.

“Customers and their families can trust Iceland to bring them good, safe,
innovative and enjoyable food that also offers them outstanding value.”