British and European Union officials will tomorrow try to work out a plan to contain a scandal over horsemeat sold as beef, in a meeting to be chaired by European Commissioner Tonio Borg.

The scandal has shocked consumers and exposed flaws in European systems of food safety control.

It began in Ireland when its food safety authority discovered horsemeat in frozen beef burgers and is now affecting a growing number of European countries.

The revelations raised questions about the food supply chain and prompted governments to send out an EU-wide alert. Owen Paterson, Britain's Environment Secretary, said the European Commission recognised the urgency of the matter.

The Commission said it was too early to require labelling on meat used in processed foods.

“It is premature to think about compulsory labelling of processed foods,” said Frederic Vincent, spokesman for Dr Borg.