Meals provided to elderly Hertfordshire residents are not supplied by any of the companies implicated in the horse meat scandal.

DNA tests on suppliers that provide food to Herts Community Meals, which runs the county’s meals on wheels service, have so-far come back 100 per cent clear.

A number of branded beef products and ready meals have been withdrawn from sale in supermarkets after samples tested positive for horse meat while four products have also been removed by a company that supplies school meals.

Colette Wyatt-Lowe, Hertfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for health and adult care, said: "The company which provide meals to Herts Community Meals does not use any of the suppliers implicated by the FSA or other food safety authorities. DNA tests to date that have been carried out by an independent accredited laboratory have been 100 per cent clear.

"We are in regular contact with the company which provide the meals for our meals on wheels service, as well as the Trading Standards authority where the company is based.

"We have been advised that the company is constantly reviewing the situation and acting appropriately, and that Trading Standards is satisfied with the actions it is currently taking.

"We will continue to monitor the situation closely."