A small number of UK businesses may have received products from a Dutch company that supplied 50,000 tonnes of meat that could have contained horsemeat, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) said.
Dutch authorities announced that the meat is being recalled where possible. The FSA said there was no reason to suggest there was a food safety issue at this stage.
It said: “The FSA has been advised of the withdrawal issued by the Dutch authorities today in relation to beef products that may potentially contain horsemeat.
“The FSA has been informed by the Dutch authorities that a small number of UK businesses may potentially have received products from the company implicated in their investigation. The FSA is following up with these businesses as a matter of urgency.”
It said the figure of 50,000 tonnes referred to the total amount of product distributed by the Dutch firm since January 2011 and across 16 countries in Europe.
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority named the wholesalers involved as Wiljo Import en Export BV and Vleesgroothandel Willy Selton.
Earlier yesterday, Asda moved to reassure customers that it acted “immediately and in the most high-profile way possible” to alert them to veterinary drug phenyl-butazone, also known as bute, detected in a corned beef product which was initially withdrawn from sale more than a month ago.
Asda announced on Tuesday night that it was recalling all corned beef from its budget range after results just returned to them reported traces of painkilling medicine had been found in some batches.
The FSA has confirmed that “very low levels” of bute were detected in the Asda Smart Price Corned Beef but stressed that it was “very unlikely” to cause harm. Customers who have bought the 340g tins have been urged to return them.