Response to Press - Asda Product Withdrawal

RNS Number : 9771X

Greencore Group PLC

15 February 2013

 



15 February 2013

Response to Press Comment regarding Asda Product Withdrawal

Greencore can confirm that it supplied the Chosen By You 350g Beef Bolognese Sauce that Asda has withdrawn following the detection of traces of equine DNA in a screening test. In addition to the 350g Beef Bolognese Sauce, Asda has withdrawn three other Greencore products, none of which contain equine DNA, as a precautionary measure (600g Beef Broth Soup, 500g Meat Feast Pasta Sauce, and 400g Chilli Con Carne Soup). The revenue of the Beef Bolognese Sauce represented c. £0.3 million of Greencore's £1.16bn turnover in its last financial year.  The annualised revenue of all products withdrawn represents less than £1.0 million.  

The company is currently awaiting the results of further quantitative tests on the 350g Beef Bolognaise Sauce that will validate the presence and the extent of the equine DNA.

The sauce contained meat that was supplied to Greencore under contract by the ABP Food Group's Nenagh plant in County Tipperary, Ireland, an approved and regularly audited supplier. The company is working closely with them to determine the full facts as we await the results of the further tests.

Greencore is committed to maintaining the highest standards of food safety and food traceability, and is therefore extremely concerned that the quality of one of its products may have been compromised in this way. The company is participating in full with the intensive industry testing programme to examine the full supply chain in order to restore consumer confidence.

Greencore will provide a further update as and when appropriate.

For queries, please contact:

Rob Greening or Lisa Kavanagh

Powerscourt

Tel: [phone]

 

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