From the Guardian

A spokesman for Aldi said random tests had shown that the products they had withdrawn contained between 30% and 100% horse meat.

"This is completely unacceptable and like other affected companies, we feel angry and let down by our supplier. If the label says beef, our customers expect it to be beef. Suppliers are absolutely clear that they are required to meet our stringent specifications and that we do not tolerate any failure to do so," he said.

The main headline story has been 'contamination' as in horse meat found in products labelled 'beef'.

It set me thinking about food, buying and preparation. Thinking of the contents of my freezer, there are no bought in ready meals. Unlike two of my neighbours, H exists on microwave and oven ready meals he buys from Salisbury or Marks & Spencer. The other neighbour buys from Iceland in particular and loves to find bargains.

Apparently there's nothing 'wrong' with horse meat apart from not wanting to eat it or that it might contain 'bute' a pain killer phenylbutazone which has been found to cause aplastic anaemia in some people.

Thanks to being of a certain age, and my upbringing the closest to 'ready' you'll find me using is frozen veg particularly when the price of fresh is too high and veg is poor quality. We buy our meat from butchers.

Do people read the small print on ready meals and 'value' foods with understanding?