DUBAI: The UAE office of Ikea has said that all horse meat found in meatballs in the country and across the Gulf region are within Islamic guidelines. Ikea's headquarters in the United Arab Emirates said this week its meatballs sold in the country were in line with Islamic food regulations, following a recent recall of Ikea meatballs from 14 European countries after horse meat traces were found. The Swedish furniture giant said it would still send a batch of its meat products for tests, as an extra precautionary measure, Gulf News reported, citing an Ikea official and a statement released by the company on Thursday. “The trust of our customers is of utmost importance to us, which is why last week we have taken extra-precautionary measures by sending a batch for DNA laboratory testing in Abu Dhabi. We expect test results next week to confirm that there are no indications of any ingredients than the ones stipulated in our recipes and specifications," the statement read. Meatballs served at Ikea's UAE stores are halal certified and imported from Saudi Arabia, not from the same source as the packaged meatballs from Europe, the statement added. Last month, European authorities detected horse meat in frozen meatballs labeled as beef and pork and sold in 13 countries. The Czech State Veterinary Administration said that horse meat was found in one-kilogram packs of frozen meatballs made in Sweden and shipped to the Czech Republic for sale in Ikea stores there. A total of 760 kilograms of the meatballs were stopped from reaching the shelves. Ikea spokeswoman Ylva Magnusson said meatballs from the same batch had gone out to Slovakia, Hungary, France, Britain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Greece, Cyprus and Ireland. Magnusson said meatballs from that batch were taken off the shelves in Ikea stores in all those countries. Other shipments of meatballs were not affected, she added. BN
