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Swedish shops to churn horsemeat into biogas

The Local Sweden
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Swedish shops to churn horsemeat into biogas

Horsemeat-hit Swedish supermarket chain Ica has recalled so many ready-made meals that its overstuffed warehouse in southern Sweden has started sending excess food to be recycled into biogas.

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After Sweden was hit by the scandal surrounding "beef lasagne" imported through French supplier Comigel, retailers have been forced to recall the equine-heavy products.

Swedish retail chain Ica has called for all such products to be sent to its central warehouse in Helsingborg, southern Sweden.

Malmö store manager Jerry Rosengren, however, admits that the 63,000-square-metre storage facility has had too much horsemeat to handle.

"It creates extra work for us, of course, but the most important thing is that they are no longer sold," he told Sveriges Radio.

"The customers should always feel safe when they come here to shop," he added.

Recalled products are now to be transported to a recycling station in Ängelholm, where they will be turned into biogas.

Swedish food manufacturer Findus, meanwhile, is sending its own products to a warehouse in Bjuv, around 20 kilometres east of Helsingborg.

Since the Findus horsemeat scandal broke last week, authorities at other retailers have been scrambling to find out if they too have been affected.

On Wednesday, grocers Coop and Axfood also announced that they would be recalling products.

Agriculture Minister Eskil Erlandsson announced on Thursday that he didn't believe any changes to food packaging rules were necessary in the wake of the scandal.

"I've not had any indications from our expert authorities on a need for changes," he said.

"We have a very strict legal framework - whatever it says on the packet should be the same as what is in the packet."

TT/The Local/og

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