Whitbread apologises after horse DNA is found in lasagne

Pub and hotel chain Whitbread has admitted that horse DNA has been found in two of its products, making it the the latest company to admit that the equine ingredient slipped into its food chain.

Whitbread reported that two of the 30 products it tested for equine DNA on Thursday came out positive. The products, namely beef lasagne and a beef burger,

were subsequently immediately removed from Whitbread's menus, the group said.

"They will not be replaced until further testing has been undertaken and we are fully reassured of the integrity of our products.

"We are shocked and disappointed at this failure of the processed meat supply chain. As an industry it is clear we need the supply chain to deliver products to the highest standards of food integrity and quality that we and our customers expect."

Whitbread said that it would work with the Food Standards Agency to implement a testing programme to prevent the occurrence happening again.

Whitbread is the latest in a growing list of companies to have issued statements revealing the presence of equine DNA in products over the past fortnight. The company's brands include Premier Inn, Beefeater, Table Table and Brewers Fayre.

Whitbread's share price was up 0.23% to 2,657p at 14:09 on Friday.

MF