NEWS

IKEA withdraws meatballs from restaurants in Greece and 13 other European countries

Furniture retailer IKEA has said it is removing Swedish meatballs from its restaurants in Greece after traces of horsemeat were found in the same product in the Czech Republic.

The company said in a statement on its Facebook page that it would be conducting tests on its own meatballs and would be suspending their sale until results are known.

IKEA said on Monday that it was removing its meatballs from stores in 14 European countries: Sweden, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, France, Britain, Portugal, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Greece, Cyprus and Ireland.

“We are now initiating further tests on the same production batch in which the Czech Republic authorities found indications of horse meat,” Ikea added in a statement. It said results were expected in the coming days.

“We do not tolerate any other ingredients than the ones stipulated in our recipes or specifications, secured through set standards, certifications and product analysis by accredited laboratories,” the statement said.

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