Horsemeat found in Leicestershire school meals

Horsemeat has been found in minced beef served at schools in Leicestershire, the county council has confirmed.

The beef has been withdrawn from menus after tests showed the beef contained less than 1% of horse DNA, the authority said.

It said there was no health risk to pupils.

The council also said traces of unlisted pork (less than 0.1%) was found in beef burgers and in chopped and shaped beef bought from shops.

Wendy Philip, county council head of school food, said: "We want to reassure parents that there is no health risk and that we're satisfied with the quality of all the beef products we serve.

"The vast majority of food we supply is Red Tractor-assured and we will continue to regularly seek assurances from our school food suppliers to ensure that they comply with legislation."

A different kind of minced beef will be used as a replacement, the council said.

The authority, which supplies 224 schools across the county, says its school food service produces 90% of the menu from scratch every day.

Another item to be tested, a beef grill steak, contained no trace of horse DNA and has been reinstated on menus.