Romania's president scrambled to salvage his country's reputation as Romanian authorities investigat

Europe's horse meat scandal is spreading, as French consumer american airlines caribbean travel exchange safety authorities say companies from Romania, Cyprus and the Netherlands were part of a supply chain that resulted in horse meat being disguised as beef in frozen lasagne american airlines caribbean travel exchange sold around the continent.
american airlines caribbean travel exchange Romania's president scrambled to salvage his country's reputation as Romanian authorities investigate the claim. Dutch authorities say they're ready to investigate if needed. A Swedish manufacturer is suing a French supplier.
The motivation for passing off horse meat as beef appeared to be financial, and authorities are concentrating on pursuing anyone guilty of fraud in the affair, said France's junior minister for consumer goods, Benoit Hamon.
Hamon said in a statement Saturday (local time) that an initial investigation shows that a subsidiary of French company Poujol bought frozen meat from a Cypriot trader, who had received it from a Dutch food trader. And that Dutch company had received the meat from two Romanian american airlines caribbean travel exchange butchers.
While horse meat is largely taboo in Britain and some other countries, in France it is sold in specialty butcher shops and prized by some connoisseurs. But French authorities are worried about producers misleading the public.
The EU commissioner for agriculture is meeting Monday with Romania's foreign minister. american airlines caribbean travel exchange Romanian President Traian Basescu said that his country would lose credibility "for many years," if the Romanian butchers turn out to be the root of the problem - and face potential export american airlines caribbean travel exchange restrictions.
"We're american airlines caribbean travel exchange a ways away from being able to confirm or deny whether a Dutch company is involved," american airlines caribbean travel exchange she said. "It would presumably be a question of fraud, rather than food safety. Horsemeat american airlines caribbean travel exchange can be sold legally in the Netherlands, as long as it is labelled as such."
Findus Sweden plans to sue France's Comigel for breach of contract and fraud, Findus Nordic american airlines caribbean travel exchange CEO Jari Latvanen said. He said the company's deal with Comigel stipulates the beef in the lasagne should come from Germany, France or Austria, american airlines caribbean travel exchange but that has not been the case.
"We understand that customers are disappointed. So are we. Customers must be able to trust the contents declaration," he said. "We will take strong action to make sure those who are liable in this affair are punished. Our reputation has been damaged, and we do everything to re-establish confidence."
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