Update on FSA and industry testing programme

The Food Standards Agency has announced it is demanding a more comprehensive meat testing programme from food businesses. Catherine Brown, chief executive of the FSA, said: 'Following our investigations into Findus products, the FSA is now requiring a more robust response from the food industry in order to demonstrate that the food it sells and serves is what it says it is on the label. We are demanding that food businesses conduct authenticity tests on all beef products, such as beef burgers, meatballs and lasagne, and provide the results to the FSA. The tests will be for the presence of significant levels of horse meat.' The deadline for these results to be provided to the FSA is 15 February.