Investigation launched after meat traces ‘found in supermarket vegetarian meals’
Lab tests showed vegan and ‘meat free’ food from Tesco and Sainsbury’s contained animal DNA
The Food Standards Agency is investigating claims that traces of meat were found in UK supermarket products classified as vegan or vegetarian.
Pork traces were found in Sainsbury’s “meat free” meatballs during laboratory tests, while traces of turkey were discovered in a Tesco vegan macaroni ready meal, according to The Daily Telegraph.
Announcing the launch of an inquiry into the findings, a FSA spokesperson said: “Our priority is to ensure consumers can be confident that the food they eat is safe and is what it says it is.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
“We are investigating the circumstances surrounding these alleged incidents and any resulting action will depend upon the evidence found.”
The Telegraph sent a number of samples to a food testing lab accredited by the German government.
The results reportedly showed traces of pork DNA in Sainsbury’s own-brand Meat Free Meatballs, which cost £1.50, and traces of turkey DNA in Tesco’s Wicked Kitchen BBQ Butternut Mac ready meal, which is labelled as being vegan and costs £4.
The presence of whole-animal DNA “suggests the presence of meat or animal skin in the product, though it could also be traced back to gelatine or oil”, says the BBC.
Tony Lewis, head of policy at the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, said consumers would be “appalled” by the findings, which could point to a far wider problem.
He said: “I would have expected Sainsbury’s to have high standards, so if they have problem you have to question who else has a problem. Other retailers will likely be using the same factory and could also be affected.
“If you're starting to find stuff in food that shouldn’t be there, the question is what else is in there – this is this potentially a much wider issue.
“Consumers who’ve eaten these products will be appalled, because they bought them in good faith.”
A spokesman at Peta, a vegan group that has previously endorsed Tesco’s Wicked Kitchen range, said: “These findings will come as a massive shock to many, including, we suspect, those producing these foods.
“As the demand for vegan meats skyrockets, we urge manufacturers to improve their line-cleaning practices.”
Both supermarkets say they carried out their own tests on the products under investigation and found no traces of meat.
“These products are produced at a meat-free factory,” said a Sainsbury’s spokesperson. A Tesco representative insisted: “Our initial DNA tests have found no traces of animal DNA in the BBQ Butternut Mac product available in stores today.
“We would urge the Telegraph to share full details of their testing, including the lab used, as we continue to investigate.”
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
'Biden is smart to keep the border-security pressure on'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Bird flu worries mount as virus found in milk, cows
Speed Read The FDA found traces of the virus in pasteurized grocery store milk
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Palazzo Durazzo Suites in Genoa: a palatial gem in northern Italy
The Week Recommends Live your Italian dream in this astonishing and recently restored palace in the heart of the city
By Nick Hendry Published
-
The ubiquity of dangerous ultra-processed foods
feature Global consumption has been rising rapidly in recent decades – and the UK and US are leading consumers
By The Week Staff Published
-
Men better at dieting than women
feature And other stories from the stranger side of life
By The Week Staff Published
-
Do vegans live longer?
feature Plant-based lifestyles can drastically lower rates of some serious diseases
By Chas Newkey-Burden Published
-
Can probiotics help fight off Covid-19?
feature New study suggests so-called good bacteria can help boost immune response to the coronavirus
By The Week Staff Published
-
What is the UK’s favourite ‘no face-to-face contact’ sex position?
Speed Read And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden Last updated
-
Panic buying and army guards - supermarkets rehearse coronavirus scenarios
Speed Read Expert says ‘feed the nation’ plans are already being drawn up by major chains
By The Week Staff Published
-
The diet that turned a UK teenager blind
In Depth The Bristol boy ate only chips, crisps, white bread and processed meat
By Gabriel Power Last updated
-
Vegan protests: are anti-meat activists going too far?
In Depth Australian government threatens action against campaigners behind nationwide disruptions
By The Week Staff Last updated