Sainsbury products free from horsemeat, says supermarket

British supermarket J Sainsbury said Thursday no horsemeat was found in its beef products following 250 tests in line with the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

The company's announcement came after a number of UK grocers were forced to recall beef-based meals containing horse DNA.

Tesco, Asda, Lidl, Waitrose, Iceland, Co-Op and Dunnes were among those told to withdraw items.

Sainsbury said it ensured quality control as through regular checks as it works alongside farmers.

"This is not just about our quality control measures," the company said in a statement.

"Our entire supply chain, from farm to store, is built around long-term sustainable relationships to offer you the best quality products at fair prices - the bedrock of the trust we know you place in us.

"We work closely with over 2,500 farmers who are part of Sainsbury's dedicated Farmer Development Groups and have invested over £40m in developing these relationships, as part of our commitment to double our sales of British food by 2020."

Shares rose 0.09% to 335.40p at 13:59 Thursday.

Last week UK's Downing Street criticised the reluctance of stores involved in selling the products to speak up about the affected goods, saying it "isn't acceptable for retailers to remain silent".

The scandal erupted last month when tests carried out in Ireland revealed that some beef products contained horsemeat.

RD