BEIJING, Feb. 27 (Xinhuanet) -- 78,000 kilograms of meat containing traces of horsemeat have been seized. The country’s Food and Economic Safety Authority, the ASAE, has opened criminal proceedings against five Portuguese companies for fraud in supermarket products.

The ASAE stated that seizures were made in industrial preparation, packaging and distribution of meat in supermarkets. The agency announced it had seized some 18,800 packages of meat products, such as lasagne, burgers, cannelloni and meatballs.

13 of 134 samples contained DNA traces of horsemeat. The ASAE has stressed that there is "no public health hazard." According to the inspector general, it’s not known if the horsemeat is from Portugal or may come from other European countries, "usually via Spain."

(Source: CNTV.cn)