Burgers made specifically for the UK catering and wholesale sector have been withdrawn after the Irish company that made them found they contained up to 30% horsemeat.
Rangeland Foods from County Monaghan said it contacted its customers yesterday to inform them that some frozen burgers made with Polish raw material in September 2012 had tested positive for horse. The products contained between 5% and 30% horsemeat instead of beef.
Rangeland supplies primarily foodservice companies, and said the burger, which is called GB Rangeburger, was produced “specifically for the UK market”. Irish media have suggested the product was also distributed in Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands and Germany, but a spokeswoman for Rangeland stressed the company had sent the product only to two companies in the UK, for specific distribution in the UK.
It added it had decided to withdraw all its untested meat products made with ingredients from Poland, “and that process is underway”.
Rangeland was first implicated in the frozen burger scandal when raw material containing 75% horse meat was found at its plant in early February. The company temporarily suspended production but was allowed by the Irish department for agriculture, food and the marine to restart work on 7 February on the basis that it would use only Irish raw materials.
“Rangeland Foods regrets the inconvenience that this recall will have on its customers; however, responsibility to the consumer for the safety and integrity of the food produced by Rangeland is central focus of its business,” the company said in a statement.
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