Barking and Dagenham Council insists its schools are horsemeat free zones.

Islington is horse meat free zone according to a statement released by town hall today.

Traces of equine flesh have been found in school meals in Lincolnshire, leading to some local authorities taking processed meat off the menu.

In light of this Cllr Terry Stacy, leader of the opposition Lib Dem group, wrote to Lesley Seary, Islington Council’s chief executive, to ask what was being done about the scandal in the borough.

He said: “It is vital that Islington Council bosses reassure residents about the situation here.

“I hope the council will want to be absolutely sure that the products being supplied to schools and residents are what they claim to be. It is not acceptable for the council to remain silent and just hope this issue goes away.”

But the town hall insists its school meal supplier has already assured them they can trace all meat back to the original farm and that none of the other suppliers are on the current danger list.

A spokesman for the council said: “From the start, we have been closely monitoring the situation and taking action.

“We expect very high standards from all our food suppliers, and we have already checked meat supplies to schools, care homes and day centres.

“None of the meat supplied to our care homes and day centres is from suppliers associated with the investigation.

“We will continue to closely monitor the situation and to take appropriate action.”