Horsemeat scandal: schools caterer suspends all frozen beef products

One of the largest private catering businesses in Britain, which provides food for public services including the armed forces, schools, care homes and prisons, has withdrawn all frozen beef products across most of its business following the discovery of horse DNA in one of the samples it had tested.

Sodexo, which boasts of working on 2,300 sites in the UK and Ireland, declined to name the supplier of the beef product which tested positive for horse DNA and would not say if it was a British or Irish manufacturer. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) said the Sodexo lines affected included beef burgers, minced beef and halal minced beef.

Birds Eye also announced the "precautionary" withdrawal of three lines on Friday.

The discoveries are likely to stoke the political storm surrounding the horse meat scandal, which shows no sign of abating. Labour has repeatedly expressed concern over the fact that retailers and manufacturers appear to be reporting results more quickly and fully than caterers. The catering at Ascot Racecourse, which hosts Royal Ascot - attended each year by the Queen - is run by Sodexo Prestige, according to the firm's website.

The Department for Education called the incident "a serious and unacceptable breach of trust".

Schools and councils were responsible for their food contracts, it said. "We expect all schools to ensure they have rigorous procurement procedures in place. If headteachers have any concerns they should contact the FSA, their caterers or local authority immediately."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/feb/22/horsemeat-scandal-schools-frozen-beef