Hi °C | Lo °C FURNITURE giant IKEA has withdrawn hotdogs from its in-store restaurants because of concerns over horse meat.
The furniture giant said it was stopping the sale of hotdogs as a precaution until it had the results of tests it was carrying out on all its products that contain meat.
This follows the withdrawal of its iconic meatballs on Monday after they were found to contain horse meat.
The company said no horse meat had been found in hotdogs, but they were made out of beef and pork by the same supplier that made the meatballs.
"As an extra-precautionary measure we have stopped the sale of hotdogs until we have results for the tests we are performing in all our products containing meat," it said in a statement.
"The trust of our customers is of utmost importance for us, we want to offer the most accurate information, that's why we are taking this extra-precautionary measure."
IKEA is also withdrawing stuffed cabbages and veal burgers containing mince from its Swedish stores because they came from the same supplier that provided the affected meatballs.
Meanwhile, it is believed Tesco's promise in the UK to bring meat production "closer to home" will not hit Irish exports of meat to the supermarket chain.
Tesco Ireland declined to comment on the implications for Ireland of Tesco chief executive Philip Clarke's commitment to purchase meat closer to home.
"We do buy some, particularly for our frozen products, out of Europe, and as we can we'll bring it closer to home," Mr Clarke said.
However, an industry source indicated that this did not suggest any turning away from Irish suppliers, who provide €177m worth of beef a year to the supermarket chain.
Tesco last month terminated its €15m-a-year contract with the ABP Silvercrest plant in Co Monaghan, which supplied the burger containing 29pc horse meat that kick-started the Europe-wide scandal.
However, it continues to purchase large quantities of fresh beef from the wider ABP group.
The company is also understood to be in discussions with other Irish suppliers about a new burger contract.
Irish Independent
