Suppliers, grocers will test meat’s DNA
After horsemeat was discovered in an Irish company’s preformed beef patties last week, processors and retailers increase testing.
January 30, 2013
A growing list of food processors and retailers in Europe say they will use DNA testing to confirm the true contents of meat products. The move comes after the Food Safety Authority of Ireland discovered horsemeat in one company’s preformed “beef” burger patties last week. Testing was not prevalent in the past because foreign DNA in meat products is considered a labeling rather than a food safety issue, meaning it isn’t as highly regulated. UK supermarket chain Tesco, who unknowingly sold the tainted burgers, announced it will become the first supermarket chain to perform DNA testing on its meat products.