GREENCORE UPDATE REGARDING ASDA PRODUCT WITHDRAWAL

RNS Number : 0527Y

Greencore Group PLC

18 February 2013

 

18 February 2013

GREENCORE UPDATE REGARDING ASDA PRODUCT WITHDRAWAL

Test Result

Greencore confirmed on Saturday 16 February 2013 that it had been informed by Asda that the results of the quantitative tests on Asda's Chosen By You 350g Beef Bolognese Sauce¹, manufactured at Greencore's Bristol facility, had shown above trace levels (4.8%) of equine DNA. 

All other Greencore and customer test results on Greencore products have been negative, and none of its other twenty one Convenience Foods sites have been affected.

Our Operational Response

Since the issue has arisen, Greencore has been in constant dialogue with its customers who are supportive of our response. Specifically, Greencore can confirm that it has received assurance from Asda that it remains supportive of Greencore and the steps it is taking with regards to this matter. 

With regards to the Bristol facility, Greencore and its customers have tested a range of meat and non meat products at the facility and all results have tested negative. However, as a precautionary measure, Greencore completed a full deep clean shutdown of its Bristol facility over the weekend before restarting full production today.

More broadly, Greencore is implementing additional species screening procedures in its supply chain for beef related ingredients² going into all Greencore facilities.  Furthermore, Greencore will take whatever actions are necessary to protect its supply chain going forward.

Our Investigation

Greencore only sources products from customer and Greencore jointly approved suppliers, which are regularly audited, and insists that they in turn use approved suppliers.  In conjunction with independent experts, its customers and key suppliers, the Company has launched a thorough and comprehensive investigation to fully determine how this incident could have occurred.

Further updates

Further updates may be released on Greencore's website (www.greencore.com) as and when appropriate.

¹The revenue of the Beef Bolognese Sauce represented circa £0.3 million of Group £1,157 million turnover in its last financial year.

²Products containing beef related ingredients account for less than 10% of Group revenue

For queries, please contact:

Rob Greening or Lisa Kavanagh	Powerscourt	Tel: [phone]
Billy Murphy or Karen Ferris	Drury	Tel: [phone]

 

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