The Cross Hands company said it followed discussions with frozen ready meals supplier Oak Farm over the possibility of horsemeat contamination.

BBC: Horsemeat scandal: Burgers withdrawn by councils

French Agriculture Minister Stephane Le Foll said Tuesday that sales of frozen ready meals have fallen 5% in France following the scandal.

WSJ: Nestl�� Pulls Products After Horse Traces Found

Spanghero imported meat from Romania and sold it on to another company, Comigel, which made frozen ready meals at its factory in Luxembourg.

BBC: Horsemeat scandal: France blames processor Spanghero

Authorities say the company supplied meat to another French company, Comigel SAS, which made beef-labeled frozen lasagna ready meals for a frozen-food maker that were found to contain horse meat.

WSJ: U.K. Arrests Men in Horse-Meat Probe

In response to Mr Clarke's remarks, Sainsbury's said all its fresh chicken had been British for a decade and it had started using British chicken in frozen chicken ready meals.

BBC: Farmers say sell more British products

Not only were connotations of loneliness attributed to ready meals, their quality also started to be questioned, with frozen meals increasingly seen as second rate.

BBC: The rise of the ready meal

The firm will be allowed to produce minced meat, sausages and ready-to-eat meals, but not to stock frozen meat.

BBC: Europe

The food giant has already withdrawn ready meals in France and Sweden after it emerged that its frozen beef lasagne sold in Britain contained up to 100% horsemeat.

BBC: Horsemeat scandal: France summons meat industry chiefs

Swedish food giant Findus withdrew ready meals in France and Sweden on Friday after it emerged that its frozen beef lasagne sold in Britain contained up to 100% horsemeat.

BBC: Findus Beef Lasagne