Hi °C | Lo °C THE vast majority of meat products tested in the UK have come back negative for horsemeat.
New results published by the British Food Standards Agency revealed that 29 out of 2,501 tests carried out so far tested positive for horse DNA, but all of these had already been reported and withdrawn from sale.
So far none of the meat products found to contain horsemeat had tested positive for the banned animal medicine "bute", the FSA said.
That means almost 99pc of the products tested from manufacturers, caterers, wholesalers, producers and retailers were clear of horsemeat.
However, there are at least 950 DNA tests still in progress on various meat products and the FSA said it would publish another update next week.
FSA chief executive Catherine Brown said that it was important for consumers that the vast majority of results showed no horse DNA.
"But this is still not the full picture; we have seen several other positive results announced in the last two hours," she said.
The UK authorities have also raided a further three premises in England - one in Hull and two in Tottenham,
This was in addition to the arrest of three individuals in west Wales on suspicion of fraud yesterday.
The EU today approved a major new testing regime for meat products across Europe.
Some 2,500 DNA tests of meat and products will be carried out along with 4,000 tests for "bute" in horse carcasses.
The testing is getting underway immediately and the first set of results is to be reported to the EU Commission by April 15.
Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney welcomed the decision by the EU's Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health.
"This testing will contribute to a clearer understanding of the situation across Europe," he said.
The EU will pay 75pc of the cost of the tests.
