Europeans opting for a frozen meal may choose to prepare their own dinners now. Horse meat has been found in Bird’s Eye brand Chile Con Carne. Earlier, Nestle had taken some Buitoni beef pasta products off the market when traces of horse DNA were found in batches of meat used to make these meals. It seems that most countries in Europe have been affected by the contamination of beef with horse meat.

In a Reuters’ article, “Horsemeat blame game ricochets across Europe,” Alastair Macdonald states,  “Dutch prosecutors launched a criminal investigation into an as yet unnamed company believed to have been falsely labeling beef mixed with horsemeat after searching a plant in the south. They said it was “suspected of forgery, fraud and money laundering” and added: “It is believed the company processed horse carcasses from Ireland and mixed them with beef.” (end quote)

Thankfully, there have been no reported illnesses from those who have eaten the less than 100% beef, other those heartsick that they might have dined on Black Beauty or Ginger.

On a positive note, the local butchers are enjoying a surge in sales.