The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) is reportedly considering whether legal action should be taken against companies at the centre of the scandal over horsemeat found in beef burgers.

The FSA has said it will consult with relevant local authorities before making a decision about possible further action. It also said it would try to further understand how the lower levels of horse and pig meat contamination took place and help to carry out a UK-wide study of food authenticity in meat products.

The alert was first raised by Irish food watchdogs earlier this week after horse DNA was found in burgers sold through Tesco, Iceland, Aldi, Lidl and Dunnes in Ireland.