Source: the UK’s Yorkshire Post
SUPERMARKET giant Tesco has become the latest retailer to drop a major supplier after discovering a range of spaghetti bolognese ready meals contained more than 60% horse meat.
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Tests on its frozen Everyday Value Spaghetti Bolognese, which was withdrawn last week as a precaution, showed some had high levels of contamination, it said.
It followed frozen food firm Findus and Aldi in finding the meat in products made by French firm Comigel and last night joined them in dropping the company as a supplier.
The announcement came as Shadow Environment Secretary Mary Creagh said clear evidence of an illegal trade of horses from Ireland to the UK for meat had been uncovered.
She said there were 70,000 horses unaccounted for in Northern Ireland, with unwanted animals given false paperwork before being sold for 10 euros (£8) and then resold to dealers for meat for up to 500 euros (£423).
Speaking in the Commons yesterday, the Wakefield Labour MP said: “The Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals have clear evidence of an illegal trade of unfit horses from Ireland to the UK for meat, with horses being re-passported to meet demands for horsemeat in mainland Europe. It is very convenient to blame the Poles and the Romanians but so far neither country have found any problems with their beef abattoirs.”
She was speaking after a statement from Environment Secretary Owen Paterson in which he said “criminal activity” had been at the heart of the scandal.
“At the moment this appears to be an issue of fraud and mis-labelling, but if anything suggests the need for changes to surveillance and enforcement in the UK we will not hesitate to make those changes,” he said.
Mr Paterson told MPs there would be immediate testing of products across the supply chain, including tests at schools, hospitals and prisons.
The “ultimate source” of the problem was not yet known but agencies were investigating a supply network that stretched across Europe, he said.
French consumer safety authorities have said companies from Romania, Cyprus and the Netherlands as well as its own firms were involved. Romanian authorities said they are investigating while their Dutch counterparts said they would do so if necessary.
One theory for the apparent increase in the presence of horse meat in the food chain is new restrictions on using horses on roads in Romania, which have led to a surge in numbers of animals being put down.
But Romanian prime minister Victor Ponta said yesterday his government had no evidence that any companies in Romania had broken any European laws.
Tesco last night followed frozen food firm Findus and discount retailer Aldi in dropping French firm Comigel as a supplier after discovering a range of spaghetti bolognese ready meals contained more than 60 per cent horse- meat.
The supermarket said tests on its frozen Everyday Value Spaghetti Bolognese, withdrawn last week as a precaution, showed some had high levels of contamination.
The revelation forced the company to issue its second apology in as many months after earlier tests discovered traces of horse in burgers from an Irish supplier.
Findus, which has taken its beef lasagne made by Comigel off shelves after some were found to contain up to 100 per cent horse meat, said it was considering taking legal action against the suppliers as an internal investigation “strongly suggests” the contamination “was not accidental”.
The National Beef Association (NBA) has called for more precise labelling of products that would add the words “United Kingdom origin” to packaging to prevent “further cheating” by suppliers.
Meanwhile, butchers have reported a marked spike in trade as consumers turn their backs on imported and processed goods.
Yorkshire butcher Brindon Addy, chairman of the Q Guild, which represents 130 butchers across England, Scotland and Wales, said some members were reporting trade had surged by 20 and 30 per cent in recent weeks.
“People slip into the convenience of supermarket shopping, but whenever there is a scare – be it horsemeat or BSE – they always come back,” he said.
Related Articles
- The Involvement of “Findus Group” in the Horse Meat Scandal, 2013 (crisismanagementlab.wordpress.com)
- Horse-meat scandal affects frozen food sales at Tesco (horsetalk.co.nz)
- Taco Bell, Burger King & Other Brands Using Horse Meat in Products (occupycorporatism.com)
- Findus Eyes New Debt After Horsemeat Crisis (news.sky.com)
- Horse meat scandal drags down Tesco sales (standard.co.uk)
- Two arrests in The Netherlands in horse-meat probe (horsetalk.co.nz)
- Tesco recovery hit by horse meat scandal sales dip (belfasttelegraph.co.uk)
- Dutch Authorities Investigating Horse Meat Scandal Arrest Owner of Meat Processing Business (rtfitchauthor.com)
- One-hour field test developed for horse in meat samples (horsetalk.co.nz)
- Chemically Tainted Horse Meat Unfit for Consumption (rtfitchauthor.com)
Categories: Horse News, Horse Slaughter
Straight from the Horse's Heart 
Anyone else notice that Comigel is awful close to commingle?
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and that means…?
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And it goes on and on…….
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Why would anyone want to kill horses for human consumption i find this very disturbing some of the human face are just pure evil
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It seems kind of strange that 70,000 horses are unaccounted for in Ireland. The Irish are suppose to love and honor their equines and now this. This really makes me sick that something had not been done before 70,000 horses ended up as ground meat. I am sure that many people knew what was happening to the horses but with $$$$ kept quiet about the missing horses. There is always a price to pay when beautiful living beings as the equines are just wiped out like nothing. God bless the horses for their suffering.
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Criminal evil !!!!!!!!!!! another video I could not bear !!!!!! Their has to be consequences for this atrocity !!!!!!!! SICK SICK SICK , turns my stomach
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Well, I think we need this information to answer the question: Where is the market for horsemeat! Pro-slaughter insists there is a HUGE demand.
Yeah, if you’re a criminal.
The statement of the constable that they will immediately check hospitals, schools and prisons made me nauseous, understanding now why Sue Pukus insists horsemeat shopuld be provided as nutritious meals for children, low income and prisons. Is THIS what she meant?
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the French have ALWAYS eaten horse, because they have no respect for any animal. Their motto should be..if it has as a face, legs, wings, OR can somehow escape..then we must eat it… for it is so fun to KILL and EAT all poor innocent creatures.. Mexico must eat horsemeat, they kill enough of them to feed third world countries, including their own country…I guess Ireland is a third world country now that they have taken the LOW ROAD in animal welfare. Too bad because I’m of Irish decent and not very proud of it right now. 😦
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As Ireland closed it’s last remaining horse slaughterhouse last Jan., it seem that there is still the need to ban the transport of horses from Ireland to other countries for slaughter. This whole situation sounds like the exact thing that was happening and with almost the exact perpetrators as when the European horsemeat scandal originally broke. I bet that they just believed it would all go away. Well, obviously not! Just adds more credibility to our demands to ban horse slaughter as the pro-slaughter industries and their affiliates can’t be trusted.
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No matter who is involved, how it has happened or why, I don’t know how much more obvious it can be that this horse slaughter business EVERYWHERE is CORRUPT, I mean OMG what will it take for ALL to STOP this??? BUT yet our own Gov. in the House would NOT even hear ONE amendment about Animal Welfare, I wrote on Pete Sessions message page on Facebook and TOLD him a thing or two as if it will matter but made me feel better at the moment….. SO horse slaughter WILL continue because NO ONE hear will even hear it on ANY FLOOR debate, OMG I get so flaming mad…….
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Discussions on an Ottawa foodie forum about horsemeat consumption have deteriorated into discussions of cannibalism. Is there anything foodie freaks won’t eat? I’m sure they have no problem with mis-identified horsemeat lasagna either. http://ottawafoodies.com/forum/5772
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Reblogged this on angelfarm and commented:
This is criminal and fraud!
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What an absolute horror of a nightmare. I am so thankful I don’t eat red meat.
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The government in Ireland chose to turn a blind eye to the slaughter of many horses here, no passports were applied for with most of them because no legitimate recording system was in place like the beef industry. The recession hit and unwanted horses in their thousands were bred due to farmers getting grants to meet the demand in the sport horse industry. The result was inevitable, the horses were bred from farmers that had no experience with horses or breeding lines and subsequently the situation got beyond control from 2008 onwards. Horses were left in fields to starve and die, some were hidden and buried anywhere. Horrific stories of horses being let loose in open areas in severe pain and emaciation, some left tied up and went unnoticed and died. Others e took it upon themselves to profit from it and store them to ship for slaughter.My story started when I had a call to help with the situation and collect 6 horses left out of over 120 that one farmer had accumulated and left in areas without food or water. One of the foals I rescued was found standing over his dead mother. The others were older mares with foals at foot. I hand fed the foal for months and it took 3 years to rehabilitate the rest. These horses were well bred stock in the years previous to the recession would of fetched €5,000 per foal and this is what happened to the best of them. Irish people loving their horses? The Emerald Isle was renown for its native Irish breeding what did it do for its beautiful spirited horse? There were some that worked round the clock like the ISPCA and the IHWT to help but the scale of the problem here in Ireland was too vast to cope with. Thankfully my tiny contribution saved just 6 but for the rest I often could cry for their pain and suffering at the hands of the irresponsible and downright unfeeling. The governments don’t care and until the scandal hit here in Ireland as horsemeat was found in the food chain they absolutely ignored it. When I think back to the horror and sadness in the eyes of my rescued horses and their poor bodies just a frame of existence I consider this will be my best achievement so far personally, not money or promotions or my degree just this. For those that passed I say “god bless” and you will not be forgotten by those that did care. My horses are my purpose for my new business to help keep them so if you know anyone coming to Ireland for a holiday send them to Donegal to Barnviewranch.com to help support our cause to helping the horse and those still struggling to be rehomed.
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This recount makes me nauseous. People who have NO business around horses using them to make a buck. Is there any way to prevent this? Can we designate horse abusers (pro-slaughter people) like we designate pedophile and refuse them access.
We have got to protect the horses.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
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Heidi Woods, GOD BLESS YOU. What you did by rescuing those six may seem like a tiny drop in the bucket in relation to the sheer magnitude of horses in need in Ireland, but to us horse lovers and advocates, what you did was HUGE, and is true testament to the deep, abiding love you have for animals. I must have had my head in the sand, because I had no idea your situation over there was so dire. I pray the Lord blesses you with bottomless resources to aid you in your selfless quest to save and rehome these magnificent, sentient beings. My heart goes out to you with much love and infinite gratitude, and many virtual hugs. Thank you.
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Thank you for your insider story of the situation in Ireland. Quite the eye-opener for those of us in the States that think we are the only ones fighting the slaughter battle. Good on ya for the six you rescued and the emotions and blessings for the rest. We are kindred spirits. I cannot thank you enough for your efforts.
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Thank you Heidi for saving those horses. RIP those 10’s of thousands that have been betrayed and died in the worst possible ways.
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Thank you Heidi… for helping those 6… and I am so sorry for the pain and suffering you have withstood seeing theose left to starve and die by irresponsible owners/breeders… Bless You!
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Thank you for teaching us about the horse situation in Ireland Heidi and more importantly I wish to thank you for giving of yourself to the six horses – giving your tears and your heart and your hard work – each and EVERY one does count.
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I think the modern world has lost its soul, I really do. God bless people like you.
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This is really sad. 70,000 sweet horses had to die so that someone could eat a meal. You don’t need to eat horse. The poor beautiful animals. This corruption must stop. This is beyond cruel.
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If you want to keep horse meat from eventually being seen in the supermarkets here in the US people had better wake up and call their Senators and Reps to tell them NO ON ON BILL S.744.
This bill if passed would open the doors to never ending amnesty to illegal aliens and legal immigration to the tune of 33 million in ten years. They would be given green cards up front with out closing up our border with Mexico. The workers at the Mexican horse slaughter plants that get fed lunch, its horse meat. The Mexicans and the Cubans are the ones that buy horse meat from the illegal slaughter operators in Florida. That state now looks like a third world country. These are the ones that are killing peoples horse and slaughtering them in the field. This bill is a job killer for US workers. Join NUMBERSUSA.com to send free faxes and phone calls to stop this stinker of a bill. The crazy politicians want to raise the legal immigration to several million more than the one million that make it to the US every 12 months. All of them hitting the tarmac looking for a job.
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This is an important story and should be repeated, but if readers would click on the Yorkshire link you will see that this is a story that was published back in February of this year….at the height of the scandal in the EU.
And I know where those 70k Irish equines went.
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This makes me so sick to my stomach knowing what happened to them…………The horror story of Ireland…….
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holy crap! i knew this would happen! just a few months ago, we had the big horse meat scandal here (i live in switzerland). the zürich society for animal protection put up a video (also on youtube) that was picked up in the media for a while. it really raised awareness here. the solution is to stay away from anything processed, if you want to choose what you eat and choose wisely. i have a feeling that the scandal isn’t over yet….
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May all who eat horse meat be forced to watch how they suffer in slaughter “
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