The tests carried out by the Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority (MAST) had a surprising result: there was no beef in the Icelandic beef pies tested, despite being labeled as containing 30 percent beef.

Archive photo copyright Icelandic Photo Agency.

Magnús Nielsson, co-owner of Gæðakokkar in Borgarnes, the company which produces the brand of pies, told mbl.is that he is dumbfounded.

On visir.is he was quoted as stating that the testing must have been inaccurate as his company buys prime beef from SS and use beef stock to make them.

Magnús, however, admits that they have stopped mixing beef with lamb when making their Italian lamb mince meatballs and that the labeling, stating that there is also beef in the product, needs to be updated.

Kjartan Hreinsson at MAST told ruv.is that the latest equipment and strictest standards are used in the testing and the results are repeated if there is the slightest doubt in accuracy.

As reported last week, the results from the testing of 16 Icelandic products carried by different stores in the country found that they did not contain any horse meat but only beef and lamb as stated on the labels.

MAST has since been examining the samples closer regarding their ingredients and labeling.

Click here to read more about the products not containing horse meat.

ZR