The European Union's Agriculture Ministers have gathered in Brussels for talks that are focused on the growing horsemeat scandal in Europe.

Authorities across Europe have started doing random DNA checks after traces of horse meat recently turned up in frozen supermarket meals such as burgers and lasagna.

The scandal erupted last month when horsemeat was found in some beef meals and burgers in the UK and Ireland.

Since then, supermarkets across Europe have had to withdraw affected prepared meals from their shelves.

Horsemeat was also found in small quantities of lasagna sold by a retail chain in Bulgaria.