Horsemeat scandal reaches Tenerife

The Canarian Government’s Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs has immobilized a ton of beefburgers, around  7,000 in all, which have traces of up to 40% horsemeat. Head of department Gustavo Matos says that the food was being distributed by Greatco, which has offices in Valencia and warehouses in Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. Sr Matos said that the burgers did not present any health risk, and that they were intended for distribution primarily to the hostelry sector, above all bars and restaurants.

The Government sees this as part of a labelling fraud issue such as affects the EU more widely, said Sr Matos, who confirmed that the relevant procedures had been put in place and that the company involved was cooperating. The Government is now seeking to identify outlets and has contacted the hospitality sector both to solicit information and to advise the utmost precaution, but will not open an official investigation, believing instead that the best thing is to destroy the food in case it ends up in food banks.