The announcement came as the European Union agreed to begin random DNA checks on meat products in a bid to regain control of the spreading scandal over horsemeat.

 

　　Whitbread PLC, Britain's largest hotel and restaurant company, said horse DNA had been found in lasagne and burgers on menus at its outlets.

 

　　Officials also said horsemeat was present in cottage pies delivered to 47 schools in Lancashire County, northern England, and in hospital meals in Northern Ireland.

 

　　Customers voiced their outrage over the revelation they may have consumed horsemeat unwillingly.

 

　　"Well, I'm absolutely amazed to be quite honest, but I just find it absolutely disgusting that it is on the market. It has probably been on the market for years."

 

　　"Just everything is not what you expect it to be anymore, you know? But I think it is terrible because I think you should be eating what it says on the labels."

 

　　Horsemeat itself is not harmful and is eaten in several European countries, including France, Germany and Italy.

 

　　In English-speaking countries, including Britain and Ireland, eating horses is widely considered taboo.

 

　　The horsemeat scandal has involved a dozen of European countries with millions of products being pulled from store shelves. Supermarkets and food suppliers have been told to test processed beef products for horse DNA.