‘Unprecedented’ tests in horsemeat scandal

Police have revealed they met with the Food Standards Agency (FSA) over the horsemeat scandal, as Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Owen Paterson tells Channel 4 News there have been cases in recent days which show “gross negligence” or “at worse criminal conspiracy”.

However, Mr Paterson said he was “confident” measures are now in place to contain the crisis after some Findus lasagnes were found to contain 100 per cent horsemeat. A full list of withdrawn products is available here.

He told Channel 4 News: “Yesterday I agreed with the FSA to test all processed beef products over the next few days – so we will have accurate information by next Friday.

“The material that has come to light is edible, it is just not what is marked on the label. And that is wholly incorrect that the public should be sold one product and receive something else.

“The FSA is confident that all material currently on sale is safe for human consumption,” he added.

Read more: The key questions on the horsemeat crisis

“Findus have withdrawn the product and we will be going ahead with an unprecedented testing programme – at the end of which we’ll have accurate information.

Rigorous regime

“I have confidence because the British farming and food industry has set up the most rigorous regimes over recent years.

“I have confidence in the independent food standards agency set up by the last government.”

Mr Paterson denied these regimes had failed but said you “cannot guarantee everything” and that there are “rogue elements” in the food industry.

“That is why we’ll be testing so that we will have meaningful results to reassure the public,” he added.

‘Completely unacceptable’

Speaking at an EU press conference, Prime Minister David Cameron, called the situation “shocking” and “completely unacceptable”.

“This isn’t really about food safety, it is about effective food labelling,” he said. “It is about proper retail practice, and people will be very angry to find out they have been eating horse when they thought they were eating beef.”

Earlier in the day, the Food Standards Agency, the body responsible for food safety and hygiene across the UK, said it was “highly likely” that criminal activity was to blame for the contamination, as consumers were warned not to eat the ready meals.

Findus, some of whose beef lasagnes have been found to contain up to 100 per cent horsemeat, apologised to customers on Friday afternoon.

But the food manufacturer failed to respond to claims by Labour MP Tom Watson that he had obtained a letter sent from Findus to retailers on Monday, warning that a French supplier had told the company raw materials delivered to it since 1 August 2012 were “likely to be non-conform and consequently the labelling on finished products is incorrect”.