Horse DNA detected in meat pie from Latvia

The FSA has been informed that a frozen meat pie product that was found to contain horse DNA has been withdrawn from sale. Horse meat is not identified in the ingredients list and therefore it should not have been present in the product.

The pie is a Galdin Klajies product manufactured in Latvia. The 200g packs are described on the label as ‘pie with minced meat’ and are distributed in the UK by Monolith UK Ltd. When Monolith tested the product, it was found to contain horse DNA at a level of more than 1%. The FSA has requested that the product now be tested for the presence of phenylbutazone, known as ‘bute’.

The product is supplied to small retail shops in the UK, many of which specialise in products from Eastern Europe, and one batch was affected. Monolith has informed its customers and withdrawn all supplies.

If people have this frozen product stored in their freezers, they are advised to return it to where they bought it. The affected batch has a best before date of 22 January 2014.