UK-based supermarket chain Tesco has announced that it has found horse meat in some Everyday Value Spaghetti Bolognese.
The horse meat was identified after the company carried out a number of tests following the product's withdrawal from sale on a precautionary basis.
Tesco says that of the positive results, most are at a trace level of less than 1%; however, three results showed significant levels of horse DNA, exceeding 60%. The company also tested the horse meat for 'bute' and the results were negative.
The beef used in Everyday Value Spaghetti Bolognese was sourced from the French food company Comigel, which is currently at the center of the horsemeat scandal.
Tesco noted that the level of contamination suggests that Comigel was not following the appropriate production process for the product and added that it will cease to source food from Comigel's facility.
Tesco Group Technical Director Tim Smith said that the company is sorry to have let customers down.
"Our DNA testing programme is underway and will give us and our customers assurance that the product they buy is what it should be," Smith added.
