A batch of canned sliced beef from Romania was found to contain horse DNA, and it has been withdrawn from sale.
The UK Food Standards Agency was informed by the Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) after a routine food testing in September 2013.
LCC, which identified the affected batch at retailer Home Bargains in Grantham, stated that horse meat is not identified in the ingredients list and therefore should not have been present in the product.
Manufactured in Romania in January 2013, the canned beef was supplied to Home Bargains (TJ Morris Ltd) and Quality Save stores in the UK.
Labeled as 'Food Hall Sliced Beef in Rich Gravy,' the product was sold in 320g packs and had a 'best before' date of January 2016, with a batch code of 13.04.C.
The agency found horse DNA at a level of between 1% and 5% in the product, and also tested for the presence of the drug phenylbutazone, known as 'bute.'
