Friday 15 March 2013

"Halal DNA found in pork sausages at London café"

From The Evening Standard:

Westminster Council said today tests revealed that pork sausages served there showed evidence of ritually slaughtered lamb DNA. The council said it immediately ensured the items - found in meals at The Golden Spoon, a café and sandwich bar - were removed from the supply chain and had instructed contractors to temporarily cease supplying meat until the issue was resolved.

In the meantime, the council said it had asked the café's owners to use a different supplier for its bacon and pork products. The problem came to light after the authority decided to carry out its own proactive tests on food contamination in the wake of the horse meat scandal.

The council said officers took seven samples in total from three outlets in the week beginning February 25, adding that the tests "were carried out on our own initiative and not carried out as the result of any specific concerns about local food standards".

The testing, which involved analysis for the presence of DNA from ritually slaughtered beef, chicken, turkey and goat, initially proved negative for Halal DNA. However, a preliminary report received on Friday suggested Halal DNA could be present in some pork sausages. The result was found in one sample taken from a café at Bryanston Square.

2 comments:

James Higham said...

The DNA changes if it's slaughtered, does it?

Mark Wadsworth said...

JH, I'm sure in those glamourous cop shows like CSI they'd be able to tell the difference.