Horsemeat fears prompt new Swedish recall
Swedish grocery chain Ica on Tuesday ordered a recall of two meat products over concerns they may contain horsemeat.
The recall covers 240-gramme packages of Ica's own-brand cheese sausages (ostwurst), as well as 600-gram packages of Ica Basic frozen cevapcici.
"Ever since horsemeat was found in lasagne, we've been conducting tests on our own products that contain beef," Ica spokeswoman Sara Hjelm told The Local.
So far, Ica has received results from tests performed on 78 of 80 different meat products sold under Ica-brand labels in stores around Sweden, with the sausages and cevapcici testing positive for traces of horsemeat.
"The tests were very stringent. The amount of horsemeat is likely very low, but we decided to announce a recall as a precautionary measure," said Hjelm.
According to Hjelm, the cheese sausages were produced in Sweden, while meat in the cevapcici came from Ireland and the Netherlands.
The two products are sold in stores across Sweden and Ica estimates that roughly two tonnes of each will be removed from store shelves as part of the recall.
She added that the products pose no health hazard to consumers, and that anyone who had previously purchased either of the products was welcome to return them to the nearest Ica store for a full refund.
"We want our customers to be able to trust our products. We have ultimate responsibility for the products sold under our brand," said Hjelm, adding that Ica has also started asking suppliers to verify their meat products to ensure they aren't contaminated with horsemeat.
"We're committed to ensuring that food contains the ingredients that are listed on the label and nothing else."
David Landes
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The recall covers 240-gramme packages of Ica's own-brand cheese sausages (ostwurst), as well as 600-gram packages of Ica Basic frozen cevapcici.
"Ever since horsemeat was found in lasagne, we've been conducting tests on our own products that contain beef," Ica spokeswoman Sara Hjelm told The Local.
So far, Ica has received results from tests performed on 78 of 80 different meat products sold under Ica-brand labels in stores around Sweden, with the sausages and cevapcici testing positive for traces of horsemeat.
"The tests were very stringent. The amount of horsemeat is likely very low, but we decided to announce a recall as a precautionary measure," said Hjelm.
According to Hjelm, the cheese sausages were produced in Sweden, while meat in the cevapcici came from Ireland and the Netherlands.
The two products are sold in stores across Sweden and Ica estimates that roughly two tonnes of each will be removed from store shelves as part of the recall.
She added that the products pose no health hazard to consumers, and that anyone who had previously purchased either of the products was welcome to return them to the nearest Ica store for a full refund.
"We want our customers to be able to trust our products. We have ultimate responsibility for the products sold under our brand," said Hjelm, adding that Ica has also started asking suppliers to verify their meat products to ensure they aren't contaminated with horsemeat.
"We're committed to ensuring that food contains the ingredients that are listed on the label and nothing else."
David Landes
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