A SUPPLIER of meat to the
school-meals contractor for Westminster City Council has been
dropped after tests ordered by the council found pork DNA in halal
chicken sausages, and traces of lamb and pork in beef mince.
Two Church of England
schools - Burdett-Coutts and Townshend Foundation, and St Mary's,
Bryanston Square - were among 15 primaries affected.
The items were withdrawn
from menus after Westminster ordered extra tests after the
horse-meat scandal, a council spokesman confirmed. He said that the
council regretted any distress caused to parents and pupils, and
had offered to meet faith leaders.
The head teacher of Burdett-Coutts, the Revd John Hicks, said
that parents were sent a text with accurate information on the day
that the problem was discovered, and had been "very understanding".
The contractor has volunteered to test random samples of the
meat-free menu now being supplied.