Meat being stored at a factory in Northern Ireland has been found to contain 80% horsemeat, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has said.
The latest discovery of horsemeat was discovered at Freeza Meats in Newry, but the firm say they did not own or purchase the products.
A spokesperson for Freeza Meats in Newry said they had been storing them for another firm.
“This raw material was not purchased by Freeza Meats and never reached the foodchain through this company.
“We have under legal jurisdiction been required to detain the product in quarantine awaiting the direction of the local Environmental Health Office.
“All tests that have been carried out routinely on our own finished products i.e. (burgers) have been negative.
“There have been no traces of equine DNA in any samples taken from Freeza Meats products.”
Freeze Meats - who employ more than 45 people - say they have also sought the authority of the Environmental Health Officer to remove or dispose of the horsemeat.
“We are fully committed to working with our suppliers and customers.
“Giving the sensitivities of the area in which we work jobs could be put unnecessarily at risk by misinformation. We look forward to working with the relevant agencies in Northern Ireland to resolve this issue,” a spokesperson for the company added.
The FSA NI statement said: “Of the 12 samples from the suspect consignment that have been tested, two of the samples came back positive for horsemeat, at around 80%.
“The investigation into the traceability of these raw materials and their source is under way.”
It stressed that the meat had not yet entered the food chain.
Major supermarkets - including Tesco -removed certain brands of beef burgers from its shelves after they were found to contain horse meat last month.