Ikea manager: 'We take worry of customers seriously'

Ikea's Food Sustainability Manager Anders Lennartsson has said his company is taking "very seriously" the news that a test in the Czech Republic found traces of horsemeat in a batch of Ikea meatballs made in Sweden.

Ikea has withdrawn meatballs from sale in 14 European countries.

The company announced that meatballs from the affected batch of meatballs had been sent to Ikea stores in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, France, the UK, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Greece, Cyprus and the Republic of Ireland.

Mr Lennartsson said: "Right now the most important thing for us to find out the background, the reason for all this".

He recommended that any worried Ikea customers should contact their local store.