Tesco said in a statement that it has decided to stop using Silvercrest after uncovering evidence that it used meat from non-approved suppliers, mirroring a move by US fast-food chain Burger King last week, AFP reports.
Two weeks ago, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland had revealed that up to 29 percent of the meat content of some beef burgers was in fact horse, while they also found pig DNA.
The frozen burgers were on sale in high-street supermarket chains Tesco and Iceland in both Britain and Ireland, and in Irish branches of Lidl, Aldi and Dunnes Stores.
The FSAI had said burgers had been made at two processing plants in Ireland and one in northern England.
Following the news, Britain's biggest retailer Tesco issued an immediate apology and pledged an investigation.
It said Silvercrest apparently used suppliers that Tesco had not authorized, as well as using meat from outside Britain and Ireland.
“Ultimately Tesco is responsible for the food we sell, so it is not enough just to stop using the supplier.’’
