EU-wide tests of beef products have found up to five percent horsemeat, according to the European Commission in a statement that was later removed from its website. The DNA testing was conducted after a widespread scandal in Europe over horsemeat being found in beef products which undermined consumer confidence in the food industry. The European Commission briefly posted the up to five percent figure on its website but then removed the statement. More test results were expected later in the day, including country-by-country findings, officials said.

By Tom Perry CAIRO, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Egyptian bakers are threatening strike action unless the government meets demands including back-payment of financial incentives, raising the prospect of fresh unrest in the crisis-ridden north African country. Abdullah Ghorab, head of the bakers' association which represents 25,000 private bakeries across the country, said imminent strike action has been postponed following a meeting with the government. The association gave the government 15 days to meet its demands.

Swedish furniture giant Ikea has withdrawn meatballs from sale in at least 15 European countries after horsemeat was found in the product by Czech authorities, the company said Monday. "We take this very seriously and have withdrawn one-kilo bags of frozen meatballs from Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, France, Britain, Portugal, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Cyprus, Greece and Ireland," in addition to Sweden, said company spokeswoman Ylva Magnusson.