Dutch recall 2 years’ of ‘beef’ exports that may have contained horse

Dutch authorities have a bit of an awkward announcement to make: 50,000 tons of Dutch meat sold as beef across Europe might contain horse meat.

Just as awkward, perhaps, the Netherlands is recalling all the meat, affecting more than 132 companies at home and some 370 around Europe, The Associated Press reported.

In a statement, the Dutch food authority said that because the exact source of the meat cannot be traced, "its safety cannot be guaranteed."

The recall covers meat dating back to Jan. 1, 2011, up until Feb. 15, 2013. 

More from GlobalPost:  Horse meat: Yea or Neigh? 

The European Commission has advised EU countries to check all beef products originating from the Netherlands for horse meat.

German authorities, for instance, say that just about every German state received tainted Dutch meat, Deutsche Welle reported.  

Tjitte Mastenbroek, spokesman for the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, said the move is a precautionary measure.

“There is no specific indication that this is a danger to the public,'’ he told The New York Times, ‘'but the company cannot give the origin of the meat, so we cannot give a guarantee.”

The recall comes just a day after news broke that horse drugs have been found in British corn beef.