An internal investigation by Tesco has revealed that the inclusion of horsemeat in beefburgers was due to a mistake by one of its meat processors. G.A.A. Processing in Dundalk, placed a routine order with their meat supplier (Diurmid O'Flynn, Kilkenny) by email, but didn't notice that the auto-correct feature on their iPad had replaced the word "Bovine" with "Equine".
Mr O'Flynn said he was used to sending horsemeat all over Europe so didn't see anything unusual with the order, and in any case he had no idea where the end product was to be sold.
G.A.A. Processing said they thought that the iPad had been used previously for placing bets on horses so had learnt that association. They also commented that another use was for checking out Feline insurance, but luckily that was later in the day.