Horsemeat in beef 'unacceptable', says minister

Catering giant Compass Group and Whitbread, one of Britain's largest hotel chains, have found horse DNA in products sold as beef, it has emerged.

Horsemeat has also been found in cottage pies supplied to 47 schools in Lancashire - they have been withdrawn.

But the Food Standards Agency says that after 2,501 fresh tests no new products have been identified as containing more than 1% horsemeat.

Speaking to the BBC's Ross Hawkins, Environment Secretary Owen Paterson described the situation as "unacceptable", and said that food companies must complete their tests and get their systems "sorted out" to avoid misleading consumers.