Equine DNA had been detected in products supplied to two campuses of the College for Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise

Burgers containing horsemeat have been on the menu at a college that trains young farmers in Northern Ireland, it has emerged.

Stormont agriculture minister Michelle O'Neill confirmed that equine DNA had been detected in products supplied to two campuses of the College for Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE).

The sites at Greenmount in Co Antrim and Loughry in Co Tyrone were impacted.

"I can confirm that burgers containing horsemeat have been supplied to the Eurest outlets at Greenmount and Loughry campuses of CAFRE," stated Mrs O'Neill.

"CAFRE has a service contract with Eurest (a subsidiary of Compass) which commenced in August 2011, to provide catering across the three CAFRE campuses.

"Compass took the precautionary measure of withdrawing from the menu all burgers supplied by a manufacturer within its supply chain, whose products were referred to in the media and sent samples for testing.

"Subsequently, on Thursday February 14, the test results revealed traces of equine DNA which Compass notified immediately to CAFRE Management.

"On Friday February 15, as soon as CAFRE received written confirmation from Compass, all staff and students were notified of the situation."

Mrs O'Neill outlined the information in response to a written Assembly question posed by Ulster Unionist MLA Jo-Anne Dobson.