Aldi meatloaf found to contain horsemeat in UK FSA tests
Despite its own tests of Oakhurst Frozen Meatloaf showing that is was clear for horsemeat, the retailer has now withdrawn the product from sale after a FSA study found otherwise.
Print19 March 2013
A random sample of our Aldi’s Oakhurst Frozen Meatloaf has been found to contain horsemeat, after being tested by a local authority on behalf of the UK’s Food Standards Authority (FSA).
The discounter said it was "surprised and deeply disappointed" by the news.
Aldi said it had carried out DNA testing last month in accordance with FSA guidance, which had also tested samples of this product and found it to be clear of horsemeat.
In a press release, the group added that it had immediately withdrawn any of the remaining stock from stores. Customers were also informed that they could return the frozen meatloaf to their nearest Aldi for a full refund. This is despite the fact that the product is not part of Aldi’s main range of everyday products and was stocked on a limited availability basis.
A spokesperson said: "We will continue to test products and if we have any reason to believe the meat content is not correct, we will continue to act immediately in the interests of our customers".
The FSA announced on 8 March, that sampling of the first and second phases of its UK-wide survey of beef products had been completed.
The results showed that 212 of the 224 samples taken in phase one tested negative for both horse and pig DNA at or above the 1% threshold.
For phase one, two products contain levels of pig DNA above 1%. At that point, no products had been verified as containing horse DNA at a level above 1%.
The authority also said that for phase two, one product tested to date was shown to contain levels of pig DNA above 1%, yet none contain horse DNA above this level.
The three products that are confirmed as positive for pig DNA above 1% have already been listed on the companies’ websites. They are Asda Spaghetti and Meatballs, Asda Beef Cannelloni and Apetito Beef Lasagne.
Both Asda products have been withdrawn from sale. Apetito has indicated that almost all of its product will have been served, but unused stock can be returned to the company.
Phase one of the FSA’s study – designed to be geographically representative – involved testing mainly burgers, but also beef sausages, meatballs and minced beef. Samples of both frozen and chilled products were taken for testing, with a focus on lower priced value or economy ranges of both brands and own-label.
Phase two was added to the survey in order to ensure a wider range of processed beef products were tested. It included ready meals (frozen, chilled and tinned), of which 140 samples were taken.
The agency said it believes that a result showing more than 1% horse DNA content, indicates either gross negligence or deliberate substitution of one meat for another.
Full details of the sampling programme (including all products tested) will be published in a report due in April.
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