Ikea withdraws meatballs

The furniture giant withdrew the product from sale in 14 countries after traces of horse meat were found. U.S. customers needn't worry. 

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  Ikea withdraws meatballs in 14 European countries after horse meat is found in them.

• Ikea withdraws meatballs
  The horse meat crisis in Europe is now affecting Ikea. U.S. consumers need not be worried: U.S. stores get their meat domestically. In Europe, however, the furniture giant withdrew their popular meatballs from sale in 14 European countries. Ikea said it removed the meatballs from the store in Sweden, after the authorities in the Czech Republic detected horse meat in their meatballs. The company said it had made the decision even though its own tests two weeks ago, had not detected horse DNA. According to the New York Times, Ikea also announced that it was stopping its sales “of the concerned batch” of meatballs in other countries.

• “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. As most of us know, meatballs (the beloved Swedish dish) can be consumed in Ikea restaurants all over the world, and are also offered frozen for sale in their in-store food shops.