Ikea pulls sausages from Russian stores after horsemeat find

FILE -- Feb. 25, 2012: Advertising for Ikea meat balls at the parking area at an Ikea store in Malmo, Sweden. Furniture retailer Ikea says it has halted all sales of meat balls in Sweden after Czech authorities detected horse meat in frozen meatballs that were labeled as beef and pork. ((AP Photo/Johannes Cleris))

Ikea has stopped selling sausages in its Russian stores after tests showed horsemeat found in sausages produced by its local supplier, the Globe and Mail reported.

Last month, the Swedish retailer pulled wiener sausages from a number of European countries after its own tests confirmed “a few indications of horsemeat.”

Remit supplies the Russian locations; the wiener sausages were produced by Familjen Dafgard.

The latest horsemeat findings come after Czech food inspectors found traces of horsemeat in Ikea's Swedish-made meatballs last month, prompting the company to pull them from store shelves in 21 European countries and in Hong Kong, Thailand and the Dominican Republic.

Stores in other countries, including the U.S. and Canada, received meatballs from a different supplier.

Ikea said results from its own tests confirmed some meatballs didn't contain only beef and pork, despite what their labeling said.

"Based on some hundred test results that we have received so far, there are a few indications of horsemeat," company spokeswoman Ylva Magnusson said. "Together with the Swedish supplier in question, we have decided to withdraw from sales also the wiener sausages ... from that supplier."

Horsemeat has recently been found mixed into beef dishes sold across Europe, including in frozen supermarket meals. It has also been found in meals served at restaurants, schools and hospitals. Authorities say the scandal is a case of fraudulent labeling but does not pose a health risk.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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