Horse meat was found in European products sold or labeled as beef during the 2013 meat-adulteration scandal.
The scandal began when testing in Ireland detected horse DNA in beef burgers. Investigations then found horse meat in processed foods distributed across several European countries, including frozen meals and lasagne. Products were recalled because their labels did not accurately identify the meat inside.
The central issue was food fraud and traceability rather than a claim that horse meat itself was inherently poisonous. Consumers had bought products advertised as beef, while complex supply chains made it difficult for retailers and authorities to identify where substitution had occurred.
The event prompted broader DNA testing, tighter supply-chain checks, and renewed debate about food labeling. It is often described as a recall crisis, but many individual recalls involved different brands and countries. The common identifying fact is the substitution of horse meat for beef.