Horsemeat found in Romanian canned beef

[Dedworth]

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

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) said horse DNA had been detected in a canned beef product that was manufactured in Romania.

Officials said the Food Hall Sliced Beef in Rich Gravy, sold in Home Bargains and Quality Save stores, had been withdrawn from sale.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 tinned product, which was made in January this year, was found to contain between one per cent and five per cent horsemeat.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/n...ale-in-UK.html

No surprises here

I always check the little EC Food Identification Mark that is printed on certain foodstuffs and will not buy anything from Eastern Europe or Greece

This is a British one



Dodgy Romanian food has RO at the top Polish PL etc. The Alpha Numeric number in the middle can be looked up and reveals details of the manufacturer. You need to be wary there are a lot of chicken/turkey products from these two ex Comecon states

[andy222]

Heard on the grapevine they might be supplying waitrose.

[bigmarco]

Home Bargains and Quality Save stores

Never heard of them.
I've become more choosy now since the last lot of scares.

[Doc Alan]

I would be interested to know why you think this food fraud is a health issue, and why you think Romanian and Polish food is “ dodgy “ ?


The canned beef was manufactured in Romania in January 2013 and supplied to Home Bargains (TJ Morris Ltd) and Quality Save stores in the UK. The 320g packs are described on the label as ‘Food Hall Sliced Beef in Rich Gravy.’
The product contained horse DNA at a level of between 1 and 5% , and tested negative for the drug phenylbutazone.
The affected batch has been withdrawn from sale.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.


Horse meat is not identified in the ingredients list and therefore clearly it should NOT have been present in the product.


Horse meat is not a health risk in itself, if it’s not rancid or infected – no evidence has been found for this in the UK “ horse meat scandal “ of 2013. If horse meat has illegally got into the food chain, it may contain the veterinary drug phenylbutazone, or 'bute'. 'Bute' is not allowed in the food chain because in humans it can cause rare cases of a serious blood disorder, aplastic anaemia. It’s not possible to say what triggers the anaemia, and therefore a “ safe “ level of residue in meat.


“ Bute “ was banned from use in humans after it was found that about 1 person in 30,000 recipients suffered a serious side effect. But in levels reported in previous FSA testing of contaminated meat, the maximum level found would have to be multiplied a thousand-fold to be at the same level as that which used to be given to humans.


This suggests that even if you have eaten products which contain contaminated horse meat, the risk of damage to your health is very low.



Of course it’s patriotic to buy British wherever possible ! “ Details of the manufacturer “ / source of food products are always worth knowing . We all like to know what we are eating, and that we can trust labels on our food . It would be even better to support your local high street butcher’s, by shopping there, rather than a supermarket . Local butchers know best where meat is sourced ! In any case, no matter where it is sourced, eating too much processed meat carries an increased long term risk of cancer.


The UK Food Standards Agency (
http://www.food.gov.uk/
) is an independent watchdog set up in 2000 to protect the public’s health and consumer interests relating to food. It's not perfect. The budget and number of employees was reduced by the Coalition as a result of spending cuts in 2010. The FSA has been criticised for having too close a relationship with food companies, bio-tech companies and large retailers. Also, while the FSA “ remains in control “ in Scotland and Northern Ireland ; nutrition policy is now the responsibility of the English Department of Health and Welsh Government ; while food labelling in England is now a function of DEFRA ( Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs ) .


Since this topic IS in the Health Issues section, it could be worth looking at “ Food Poisoning “ here ( http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Food-po...roduction.aspx ).



It's difficult to know exactly how many people get food poisoning because mild cases often go unreported.


The FSA estimates that food poisoning affects up to 5.5 million people in the UK each year. Most DO get better without visiting their doctor, and it’s usually due to food contaminated by bugs ( bacteria ) or viruses.


Of course there are different risks and causes of food poisoning elsewhere in the world, such as the Philippines ( http://filipinaroses.com/showthread....to-Philippines ).

[Michael Parnham]

I would be interested to know why you think this food fraud is a health issue, and why you think Romanian and Polish food is “ dodgy “ ?


The canned beef was manufactured in Romania in January 2013 and supplied to Home Bargains (TJ Morris Ltd) and Quality Save stores in the UK. The 320g packs are described on the label as ‘Food Hall Sliced Beef in Rich Gravy.’
The product contained horse DNA at a level of between 1 and 5% , and tested negative for the drug phenylbutazone.
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.


Horse meat is not identified in the ingredients list and therefore clearly it should NOT have been present in the product.


Horse meat is not a health risk in itself, if it’s not rancid or infected – no evidence has been found for this in the UK “ horse meat scandal “ of 2013. If horse meat has illegally got into the food chain, it may contain the veterinary drug phenylbutazone, or 'bute'. 'Bute' is not allowed in the food chain because in humans it can cause rare cases of a serious blood disorder, aplastic anaemia. It’s not possible to say what triggers the anaemia, and therefore a “ safe “ level of residue in meat.


“ Bute “ was banned from use in humans after it was found that about 1 person in 30,000 recipients suffered a serious side effect. But in levels reported in previous FSA testing of contaminated meat, the maximum level found would have to be multiplied a thousand-fold to be at the same level as that which used to be given to humans.


This suggests that even if you have eaten products which contain contaminated horse meat, the risk of damage to your health is very low.



Of course it’s patriotic to buy British wherever possible ! “ Details of the manufacturer “ / source of food products are always worth knowing . We all like to know what we are eating, and that we can trust labels on our food . It would be even better to support your local high street butcher’s, by shopping there, rather than a supermarket . Local butchers know best where meat is sourced ! In any case, no matter where it is sourced, eating too much processed meat carries an increased long term risk of cancer.


The UK Food Standards Agency (
http://www.food.gov.uk/
) is an independent watchdog set up in 2000 to protect the public’s health and consumer interests relating to food. It's not perfect. The budget and number of employees was reduced by the Coalition as a result of spending cuts in 2010. The FSA has been criticised for having too close a relationship with food companies, bio-tech companies and large retailers. Also, while the FSA “ remains in control “ in Scotland and Northern Ireland ; nutrition policy is now the responsibility of the English Department of Health and Welsh Government ; while food labelling in England is now a function of DEFRA ( Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs ) .


Since this topic IS in the Health Issues section, it could be worth looking at “ Food Poisoning “ here ( http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Food-po...roduction.aspx ).



It's difficult to know exactly how many people get food poisoning because mild cases often go unreported.


The FSA estimates that food poisoning affects up to 5.5 million people in the UK each year. Most DO get better without visiting their doctor, and it’s usually due to food contaminated by bugs ( bacteria ) or viruses.


Of course there are different risks and causes of food poisoning elsewhere in the world, such as the Philippines ( http://filipinaroses.com/showthread....to-Philippines ).

Very interesting Doc, thank you!

[andy222]

Nice one Doc.

[Dedworth]

I would be interested to know why you think this food fraud is a health issue, and why you think Romanian and Polish food is “ dodgy “ ?

Doc Romania is a rogue state and exports cheats, thieves and numerous other criminals to the West - like restaurants here employing illegals they'll pay scant regard to food and hygiene regulations. Poland was a major player in the recent horsemeat scandal and if I recall correctly some of the horsemeat they handled came from Romania. Just my opinion

[grahamw48]

I miss my cheap Tesco 'horsemeat' burgers.

[stevewool]

there are getting ready for the influx of them coming here so it will feel like home straight away, buy 1 can put it on there dash board and it will be like back home a horse in front of the car

[Dedworth]

there are getting ready for the influx of them coming here so it will feel like home straight away, buy 1 can put it on there dash board and it will be like back home a horse in front of the car

[grahamw48]

Cheaper minicabs on the way ?

.

[Terpe]