Horsemeat found in beef burgers on sale in UK and Ireland

[PoliticAverse]

47. Followup: Horse DNA in burgers may have come from additives

Finger of suspicion now points at suppliers of high-protein powders based in the Netherlands and Spain

The Tesco burgers that contained up to 29% equine DNA were likely to have been made with high-protein powders derived from horse rather than fresh meat, the Guardian has been told.

The main focus of efforts to trace the source of adulteration in the Tesco economy burgers has now shifted from the meat itself to additives used in the manufacturing process. The Irish processors ABP have pointed the finger at suppliers of the "beef ingredient products" it uses to make cheap burgers. The Tesco burgers were only 63% meat and 37% other ingredients.

Economy burgers are typically bulked out with additive mixes of concentrated proteins extracted from animal carcasses and offcuts. Industry sources said the 29% horse DNA was more likely to have originated with these high-protein powders from rendered horses rather than any fresh horse meat. ABP declined to comment on its ingredients or on the companies it uses for additive mixes but they are believed to be in the Netherlands and Spain. The processor said it had stopped work at its Silvercrest Foods plant in Co Monaghan, Ireland, until further notice.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/jan/17/horse-dna-burger-additives