Horse meat in beef mince supplied to Edinburgh school

Mince supplied to a primary schoolhouse kitchen inwards Edinburgh, Scotland, contained Equus caballus meat, according to authorities.

The pith went to the shared kitchen of Pirniehall too St David’s primary schools.

The same batch was besides supplied to a farther 4 primary schoolhouse kitchens, Oxgangs PS, Craigroyston PS, Braidburn SS too Forthview PS.

It was non possible to confirm whether mince from this batch was served to pupils earlier the production recall, the City of Edinburgh Council said.

Tests carried out past times the council confirmed that a batch of frozen mince containing betwixt 1 per cent too 5 per cent Equus caballus pith was supplied to ane of the city’s primary schools prior to the production beingness recalled past times the distributor, food-service wholesaler 3663, on March 8.

Since fourteen February, scientists at the council’s Edinburgh Scientific Services laboratory direct keep been task a testing programme of pith products nether the administration of the Food Standards Agency every bit business office of that agency’s UK-wide authenticity survey.

In addition, the laboratory is besides carrying out testing of processed pith products supplied to schools, residential homes too other council establishments.

Eighty-five pith production samples direct keep been taken from council catering establishments to engagement too all except ane direct keep tested negative for Equus caballus meat.

Results at nowadays available from a sample of frozen beef mince taken inwards piece of cake Feb from the shared kitchen of Pirniehall & St David’s Primary Schools exhibit that it contained the Equus caballus meat, the council said.

The results direct keep been reported to the Food Standards Agency.

Catering supplies at Edinburgh’s PPP1 primary schools are procured past times a contractor, who inwards plough sourced frozen mince from 3663.

On March 8, 3663 recalled all batches of this frozen mince beef production afterward ane batch tested positive for Equus caballus meat.

Council investigations direct keep established that mince from this batch was besides supplied to a farther 4 PPP1 primary schoolhouse kitchens, namely Oxgangs PS, Craigroyston PS, Braidburn SS too Forthview PS.

A alphabetic lineament from Mike Rosendale, Head of Schools too Community Services, has been sent to parents of pupils at each of the vi schools inwards question, advising them of the exam results too reassuring them that at that spot is no endangerment to wellness from consuming Equus caballus meat.

Councillor Cathy Fullerton, vice convener of education, said: “It’s real of import to emphasise that at that spot is no endangerment whatsoever to people’s wellness from consuming Equus caballus meat, simply plainly nosotros all desire to hold upwards for sure that nosotros know precisely what nosotros are eating.

“This is why the council chose to try extra assurance that our external suppliers were non providing whatsoever products containing Equus caballus pith past times carrying out our ain testing.

“Parents tin hold upwards reassured that nosotros direct keep taken absolutely the right aeroplane of activity inwards instantly making for sure at that spot is none of this frozen mince remaining inwards schoolhouse kitchens.

“We direct keep written to all parents inwards the vi schools to permit them know close this too volition hold upwards happy to verbalise over whatsoever farther queries they may have.”

The revelation is the latest twist inwards the horse-meat contamination scandal that has resulted inwards the recalls of tens of millions of ready-to-eat meals across at to the lowest degree a dozen European states.

The scandals has highlighted the complexity of the nutrient chain too dented consumer confidence.

 

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