Nestle withdraws meals from Spain with traces of horse DNA

The discovery of horsemeat in products labelled as beef has spread across Europe since last month. Swiss-based Nestle,  said last week its products had not been affected by the scandal but has now suspended deliveries of all products made using beef from a German subcontractor to one of its suppliers.

Governments across Europe have stressed that horsemeat poses little or no health risk, but some carcasses have been found to be tainted with a painkiller banned for human consumption.

However, the scandal has damaged the confidence of consumers in supermarkets and fast food chains since horsemeat was first identified in Irish beefburgers.