Dutch recall 50,000 tons of meat, fearing horse meat taint

Dutch authorities are recalling about 50,000 tons of meat that was sold as beef across Europe and possibly containing horse meat, because the exact source of the meat cannot be established.

The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority said Wednesday around 370 different companies around Europe and 130 more in the Netherlands are affected by the recall because they bought meat from two Dutch trading companies.

The authority says that because the exact source of the meat cannot be traced, "its safety cannot be guaranteed."

The statement added that Dutch authorities currently have "no concrete indications that there is a risk to public health."

Dutch authorities began a large-scale investigation into the country's meat industry in February following revelations across Europe that horse meat was being sold as beef.