A SHOCKING 70,000 horses are “unaccounted for” in Northern Ireland, sparking fears some may have ended up in food, Labour claimed last night.
Investigators believe criminal traders are forging passports and microchips required for horses under EU law to sell them for meat.
Shadow environment secretary Mary Creagh told the Commons: “Unwanted horses are being sold for ten euros and sold on for meat for 500 euros — a lucrative trade.”
Her revelations came as No 10 tried to calm fears after Environment Secretary Owen Paterson said horse meat could contain “a substance injurious to human health”. His comments referred to veterinary drug “bute”, which can trigger a serious blood disorder in some humans.
The PM’s spokesman insisted yesterday there was currently “no evidence of health risks”.
Chief Medical Officer Dame Sally Davies said bute could have serious effects but stressed small quantities posed only a low risk.
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