Ikea suspends sales of meatballs in Hong Kong
Furniture giant acts to ease concerns after horse meat is discovered in product sold overseas
Swedish furniture retailer Ikea has halted sales of its meatballs in Hong Kong, following similar moves elsewhere in the world, after overseas batches of the product were found to contain horse meat.
Ikea stopped selling meatballs temporarily at its three stores in the city to "relieve potential worries among customers", the company said yesterday.
The product imported into Hong Kong was not from the same batches as the affected meat, although all came from the same Swedish supplier.
"As a further precaution, more tests will be conducted on meatball supplies," a spokeswoman said.
The company reacted after the Czech Republic said it had detected horse DNA in tests of 1kg packs of frozen meatballs that were labelled as beef and pork, including some that were made for Ikea.
The Czech State Veterinary Administration said one of two batches of Ikea meatballs it tested contained horse meat. It did not say how much.
In Hong Kong, the furniture chain posted notices at its three branches saying the immediate stop in sales was made "in view of test results from the Czech Republic authorities showing indications of traces of horse meat".