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Horse Meat Found in Ikea’s Popular Swedish Meatballs

Feb. 25, 2013 8:13am
Ikeas Swedish Meatballs Found to Contain Horse Meat

FILE – In this Nov. 16, 2012 file photo, a sign bearing the Ikea logo is seen outside a store in Berlin. The Czech veterinary authority said Monday, Feb. 25, 2013 it detected horse meat in meat balls labeled as beef and pork imported to the country by Sweden’s furniture retailer giant Ikea. The State Veterinary Administration says the one-kilogram packs of the frozen meat balls were made in Sweden to be sold in Ikea’s furniture stores that also offer typical Swedish food. Credit: AP

STOCKHOLM (AP) — Swedish furniture giant Ikea was drawn into Europe’s widening food labeling scandal Monday as authorities said they had detected horse meat in frozen meatballs labeled as beef and pork and sold in 13 countries across the continent.

The Czech State Veterinary Administration said that horse meat was found in one-kilogram packs of frozen meatballs made in Sweden and shipped to the Czech Republic for sale in Ikea stores there. A total of 760 kilograms (1,675 pounds) of the meatballs were stopped from reaching the shelves.

Ikea spokeswoman Ylva Magnusson said meatballs from the same batch had gone out to Slovakia, Hungary, France, Britain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Greece, Cyprus and Ireland. Magnusson said meatballs from that batch were taken off the shelves in Ikea stores in all those countries. Other shipments of meatballs were not affected, she added.

However, the company’s Swedish branch announced on its Facebook page that it won’t sell or serve any meatballs at its stores in Sweden out of concern for “potential worries among our customers.”

Magnusson said Ikea saw no reason to extend that guidance globally. She said Ikea was conducting its own tests of the affected batch. She also said that two weeks ago Ikea tested a range of frozen food products, including meatballs, and found no traces of horse meat.

Ikea’s stores feature restaurants and also sell typical Swedish food, including the so-called Kottbullar meatballs.

European Union officials were meeting Monday to discuss tougher food labeling rules after the discovery of horse meat in a range of frozen supermarket meals such as burgers and lasagna that were supposed to contain beef or pork.

The Czech authority also announced Monday that it found horse meat in beef burgers imported from Poland during random tests of food products.

Spanish authorities, meanwhile, announced that traces of horse meat were found in a beef cannelloni product by one of the brands of Nestle, a Switzerland-based food giant. The Agriculture Ministry said it was a case of fraudulent labeling but represented no health threat.

In a statement on its website, Nestle Spain said that after carrying out tests on meat supplied to its factories in Spain it was withdrawing six “La Cocinera” products and one “Buitoni” product from store shelves.

It said it was taking the action after the traces of horse meat were found in beef bought from a supplier in central Spain. Nestle said it was taking legal action against the company, adding that the products would be replaced by ones with 100 percent beef.

Some EU member states are pressing for tougher labeling rules to regain consumer confidence.

The 27-nation bloc must agree on binding origin disclosures for food product ingredients, starting with a better labeling of meat products, German agriculture minister Ilse Aigner said.

“Consumers have every right to the greatest-possible transparency,” she insisted.

Austria backs the German initiative; but others like Ireland say existing rules are sufficient although Europe-wide controls must be strengthened to address the problem of fraudulent labeling.

The scandal has created a split between nations like Britain who see further rules as a protectionist hindrance of free trade under the bloc’s single market, and those calling for tougher regulation.

Processed food products – a business segment with traditionally low margins that often leads producers to hunt for the cheapest suppliers – often contain ingredients from multiple suppliers in different countries, who themselves at time subcontract production to others, making it hard to monitor every link in the production chain.

Standardized DNA checks with meat suppliers and more stringent labeling rules will add costs that producers will most likely hand down to consumers, making food more expensive.

The scandal began in Ireland in mid-January when the country’s announced the results of its first-ever DNA tests on beef products. It tested frozen beef burgers taken from store shelves and found that more than a third of brands at five supermarkets contained at least a trace of horse. The sample of one brand sold by British supermarket kingpin Tesco was more than a quarter horse.

Such discoveries have spread like wildfire across Europe as governments, supermarkets, meat traders and processors began their own DNA testing of products labeled beef and have been forced to withdraw tens of millions of products from store shelves.

More than a dozen nations have detected horse flesh in processed products such as factory-made burger patties, lasagnas, meat pies and meat-filled pastas. The investigations have been complicated by elaborate supply chains involving multiple cross-border middlemen.

—

Associated Press writers Juergen Baetz in Brussels, Karel Janicek in Prague and Ciaran Giles in Madrid contributed to this report.

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Comments (42)

  • Red herring
    Posted on February 26, 2013 at 12:25pm

    Get over this. All countries listed that it was sent to eat horse meat as a delicassy. It is considered more ‘pure’ meat because you can’t give growth hormones to horses like you can with cows. The scale of this uproar would the same as it we found pork in beef patties here. When I lived in Belgium, it was very common to have horse meat, and pork, in beef patties for hamburgers and other things. This is of course gross to many Americans, (including me), but this ‘revelation’ only just sounds worse to us than it does to people there.

    Report this comment

    Red herring  
  • Listen_then_think
    Posted on February 25, 2013 at 3:00pm

    So what? I had horse when i was in Norway. It was good. Also had reindeer it was excellent.

    Report this comment

    Listen_then_think  
  • Chrisrob63
    Posted on February 25, 2013 at 1:39pm

    Next, they will be telling us that flouride is used as rat poison.

    Report this comment

    Chrisrob63  
  • so3
    Posted on February 25, 2013 at 1:13pm

    I ate roast horse when I was in Sweden many times…meat is meat…

    Report this comment

    so3  
  • watashbuddyfriend
    Posted on February 25, 2013 at 1:00pm

    Gotta raise your own meat, gotta cook your own meat, gotta raise your own veggies, and cook your own. On, and own!

    Report this comment

    watashbuddyfriend  
  • Verceofreason
    Posted on February 25, 2013 at 12:06pm

    I once detected some Hoffa in a Big Mac!

    Report this comment

    Verceofreason  
    • UNALIEN
      Posted on February 25, 2013 at 12:47pm

      yeah I remember the song when I was a kid…

      Two all beef patties, marxist, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun

      Report this comment

      UNALIEN  
  • kadster01
    Posted on February 25, 2013 at 12:01pm

    Mmmmm….. horse…. Sprinkle on a little A-1 and you’re good to go.

    Report this comment

    kadster01  
    • Jim S
      Posted on February 25, 2013 at 12:33pm

      My mom told me that during WWII, horse meat was a regular menu item at the butcher shop. She said beef was iffy at best and frequently horse was the only meat available, pork/lamb/foul was also sparse. Mom said horse was fine, a bit tougher than a good cut of beef, but was fine for most dishes and less expensive. She never told the family what meat they were eating and no one ever complained. No excuse for mislabeled food whatsoever, but funny how a few decades have changed perspectives of what is Ok and what is not. I do wonder how many of these packers also process dog/cat food? Absent the crooks, I wonder how much is poor sanitation if they switch from animal to human products?..a horse is a horse of course of course :)..Mr.Ed’s revenge!

      Report this comment

      Jim S  
  • SquidVetOhio
    Posted on February 25, 2013 at 11:52am

    Hmmmm… I was at IKEA last week and had the meatballs. Now, I keep tapping my foot to count the beats in ABBA songs.

    Report this comment

    SquidVetOhio  
  • shorelineliz
    Posted on February 25, 2013 at 11:47am

    Yum. Swedish HorseBalls. Pass the Gravy! and the Lingonberry sauce!

    Report this comment

    shorelineliz  
  • woodyee
    Posted on February 25, 2013 at 11:22am

    Ikea is just catering to the desires of the Europeans. Wait until you see what is in development for Korea (dogmeatballs), South America (monkeymeatballs) and US Liberals/Progressives/Leftists/Nazis – fetusmeatballs…(I mean, really, what are they calling themselves today?)

    Report this comment

    woodyee  
  • UNALIEN
    Posted on February 25, 2013 at 10:41am

    Breaking news,, a random sampling of Progressives has tested positive for Communism and Marxism, Progressive spokesperson I P Nightly said that tests must have been tainted by global warming and are not valid. Further, the test suggest that 75% of Progressives tested positive for Communism and Marxism and 25% tested positive for Useful idiot syndrome, thought to have been wiped out after Joseoh Stalins death with ongoing treatments of critical thinking, The independent non Partisan testing agency could not be reached for comment and a letter taped to their front door suggest that they have been sold to a Soros owned front group..

    Report this comment

    UNALIEN  
  • Verceofreason
    Posted on February 25, 2013 at 10:12am

    SO, don’t they HAVE horses in Sweden?
    What the problem?

    Report this comment

    Verceofreason  
    • UNALIEN
      Posted on February 25, 2013 at 10:21am

      Mislabelled,, meatballs were sold as pork and beef,,, France eats Horse,,

      like Progressives are mislabelled, they are really Marxists/Communists

      Report this comment

      UNALIEN  
  • noslave
    Posted on February 25, 2013 at 9:18am

    were going bankrupt with obamas spending spree???and we talk about HORSEMEAT??HOW ABOUT WHEN WERE BROKE WE MAY BE EATING HORSECHIPS??

    Report this comment

    noslave  
    • SovereignSoul
      Posted on February 25, 2013 at 3:18pm

      Could we return to the bartering economic model”’
      I have some extra apostrophe’s but I”m short of question marks.
      Do you think we could make a trade””

      Report this comment

      SovereignSoul  
    • noslave
      Posted on February 25, 2013 at 4:53pm

      solberinghole?my god correcting blogs,get a life?go count the rolls of paper at a rest stop if your bored?

      Report this comment

      noslave  
    • SovereignSoul
      Posted on February 25, 2013 at 9:14pm

      Lordy, get a sense of humor. ; )
      Ulcers are no fun.

      Report this comment

      SovereignSoul  
  • AJAYW
    Posted on February 25, 2013 at 9:06am

    The truth is you never know for sure what you are getting when you buy meat that has been ground.

    Report this comment

    AJAYW  
  • UNALIEN
    Posted on February 25, 2013 at 8:55am

    and in other news real wood was found in Ikea furniture,,

    Ikea’s spokesperson Ingvar VerServerggen when questioned by reporters said that “we are committed to correct the problem, and customers that purchased the furniture with real wood can return it for an exchange”

    Report this comment

    UNALIEN  
  • Zipit
    Posted on February 25, 2013 at 8:48am

    RJJ! Don’t know about you, but whenever someone mentions IKEA, I automatically think, “Swedish Meatballs”, and vice Versa! Is that strange?

    Report this comment

    Zipit  
    • RJJinGadsden
      Posted on February 25, 2013 at 9:02am

      ZIPIT, It does sort of strike me as strange. I lived in Europe for almost nine years, and never heard of Ikea while I was there. But, its probably because I didn’t go shopping on the economy for crappy furniture and meatballs. I have to wonder now just when Ikea will introduce their new line of clothing…..some assembly required or course.

      Report this comment

      RJJinGadsden  
    • UNALIEN
      Posted on February 25, 2013 at 9:15am

      funny I always think Fascism,,

      IKEA apologises for benefitting from forced prison labour in communist East Germany 30 years ago
      East German prisoners,
      including many political dissidents, were involved in the manufacture of goods supplied to IKEA 25 to 30 years ago
      Swedish furniture giant has said it ‘deeply regrets’ its use of suppliers involved in forced prison labour

      http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2234050/IKEA-apologises-benefitting-forced-prison-labour-communist-East-Germany-30-years-ago.html

      Report this comment

      UNALIEN  
    • Zipit
      Posted on February 25, 2013 at 11:22am

      I could swallow this story a little easier if they had told me they had found sawdust in the meatballs! Or maybe not! More gravy please!

      Report this comment

      Zipit  
  • NOTAMUSHROOM
    Posted on February 25, 2013 at 8:43am

    The problem is that if you are in economically poor times, companion animals like horses can’t be cared for adequately. So they are put down or go to slaughter. Putting a horse down and disposing of a body that weighs over 1000 lbs ain’t cheap. My only concerns are twofold: 1) horse eat that slips into the beef slaughter line is not regulated as far as what drugs are in their system and 2) these are smart, gentle companions so I hope they are put to death without fear and stress. In the US we outlawed horse slaughter for meat years ago, resulting in over 120,000 horses per year with now where to go and no one to care for them. As usual, bleeding heart policies predicated on irrational emotion led to the unintended consequences that horses were a) starved and abandoned b) shipped to Mexico or Canada for slaughter where we have no control over what happens. I’m not concerned about our neighbors to the North as much as I am our neighbors to the south. The long trailer ride in a crowded van full of horses would kill me if I were a horse.

    Has anyone noticed the economic situation in Europe recently? Hmmm. I wonder where the problem begins?

    Report this comment

    NOTAMUSHROOM  
    • Watchingtheweasels
      Posted on February 25, 2013 at 9:35am

      I wouldn’t be putting down horses, it’s not long before we’re not going to be (1) able to afford cars, (2) able to afford repairs for cars, and (3) afford gas for cars.

      Report this comment

      Watchingtheweasels  
    • UNALIEN
      Posted on February 25, 2013 at 11:29am

      WATCHINGTHEWEASELS

      Have you seen the 2016 Ford Mustang..

      Report this comment

      UNALIEN  
    • iglooanne
      Posted on February 25, 2013 at 2:07pm

      Excellent post! There was actually a lot of horse meat that was going into dog and cat food. Since the ban on horse slaughter, have you noticed the price of those foods skyrocket? I have 6 horses myself, while I would not consider eating them, I understand the need for humane disposal/use in situations where they cannot be cared for. Also, just because we consider them companion animals, doesn’t mean they aren’t livestock. In Mongolia they are the main source of labor, milk and yes, MEAT. Now we have a problem with our economy where people cannot care for their horses. Instead of having them humanely slaughtered (is this an oxymoron?) and used, now they are wasting away on farms across the country in prolonged starvation. It will only get worse as hay prices go up and the economy sinks farther. Thank goodness my horses are pedigreed, valuable breeds and I grow my own hay…:)

      Report this comment

      iglooanne  
  • Locked
    Posted on February 25, 2013 at 8:43am

    The only issue I can see is if the meatballs were labeled as “100% beef” or something. I don’t see anything wrong with horse meat in MEATballs. It’s still animal meat, and obviously people weren’t able to tell the difference through taste alone.

    Report this comment

    Locked  
    • OneTermPresident
      Posted on February 25, 2013 at 9:55am

      It helps to read…. “detected horse meat in frozen meatballs labeled as beef and pork and sold in 13 countries across the continent” = not getting what you bargained for.

      Report this comment

      OneTermPresident  
  • OneTermPresident
    Posted on February 25, 2013 at 8:33am

    Horse meat… it comes with socialism.

    Report this comment

    OneTermPresident  
  • Southernsoul
    Posted on February 25, 2013 at 8:30am

    What? There is meat in the meatballs? Unacceptable.

    Report this comment

    Southernsoul  
  • ares338
    Posted on February 25, 2013 at 8:25am

    Old Dobbin’s a bobbin in the stew pot!

    Report this comment

    ares338  
  • RJJinGadsden
    Posted on February 25, 2013 at 8:25am

    When you really think this through. Just how could any of this kind of mixups really be in error. Sounds like somebody is trying to stretch the beef.
    I’ll have an order of the Swedish Meatballs with extra glue.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY_Yf4zz-yo

    Report this comment

    RJJinGadsden  

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