The horsemeat scandal also arrives in Italy. Nestlé has decided to withdraw Buitoni beef ravioli and tortellini from the Italian (but also Spanish) shelves, a company owned by the food giant. A decision, reveals the Financial Times, taken after traces of 1% horsemeat DNA were found.
Having informed the authorities of the results of the tests, Nestlé reassured: "There are no food safety problems". The withdrawn products will be replaced with others "that tests will confirm to be 100% beef", added Nestlé in a note, in which it specifies that all deliveries of finished products with beef from the German HJ Schypke have been suspended. for one of our suppliers”. “We are strengthening quality controls with new tests. Ensuring the quality and safety of our products has always been a priority for Nestlé. We apologize to consumers and assure that the actions taken to address this issue will result in higher standards and enhanced traceability", added Nestlé, specifying that the 'Lasagnes a la Bolognaise Gourmandes' produced will also be withdrawn from sale. in France.
The spread of the scandal of horsemeat in hamburgers and lasagna has prompted the European Union to take the field and approve a barrage of tests on beef to verify its composition. Tests with respect to which Italy, the leading horse consumer in Europe, expressed the opposite opinion. The only European country to do so. Germany's attitude is the opposite, which – reports the Financial Times – will follow a ten-point plan that goes beyond what was established in Brussels to check for the possible presence of other undeclared additives. Meanwhile, the hamburger industry is feeling the effects of the crisis: in the week that ended February 2nd, sales of frozen hamburgers in England, where the crisis started, fell by 40% and two thirds of the British - according to a survey Nielsen – said they were against buying frozen meat in the future.
