A FOOD research company in Leatherhead has become involved in the investigations into the horsemeat scandal.
Leatherhead Food Research, which provides food testing and quality management for the food industry, has been hired by several global organisations to test their products for contamination.
The company, which has laboratories and its head office in Randalls Way, has also received international media attention, with agencies from around the world interviewing their Leatherhead-based experts.
Professor Tony Hines, head of food security and crisis management, said: "It has been a bit of a rollercoaster at the moment. I've been interviewed by BBC, Channel 5; the lot.
"We have been providing tests and advice to a whole host of household name companies as we are a global company with a century of experience. We are industry experts in this particular area.
"It is very exciting times for everyone here at the moment and I can only see our involvement in this whole issue increasing as time goes on."
The scandal hit Europe last month when processed beef burgers in the UK were found to include undeclared horsemeat.
Scientists at the company's laboratories have since been testing manufacturer's food using the ELISA test, which searches for unidentified proteins.
The assessment has been likened to a pregnancy test, in that the meat changes colour in the presence of protein. The test is able to detect contamination levels above one per cent.
Professor Hines continued: "We are now in the process of developing a DNA test, which when established will be able to detect as little as 0.1 per cent contamination.
"In general, I do not think people should worry about their beef containing horsemeat. In most cases what is found is comparable to a grain of sand on a beach."
He added: "This is also nothing new. Cost cutting has seen authenticity programmes decline since 2000, and because you can only test for each individual thing, it is hard to know what to look for.
"It is impossible to test all food for absolutely everything, otherwise we would be there all day testing one pea.
"But extra tests will be added to the general list because of this and it is certainly going to keep us busy."
