Taco Bell pulls beef from UK outlets after horse meat discovery March 1, 2013 -- Updated 1547 GMT (2347 HKT) (Illustration photo) An employee conducts a verification of the origin of the meat in a supermarket in France, on March 1, 2013. Taco Bell says it has pulled all beef products from its three UK restaurants Beef from a European supplier tested positive for traces ofhorse meat, a spokesman says "We take this matter very seriously as food quality is our highest priority," he says Europe's meat industry has been in turmoil over the discovery of rogue horse DNA London (CNN) -- Fast food giant Taco Bell said Friday it has taken beef off the menu in its three UK outlets after tests on ground beef from a European supplier revealed traces of horse meat. The discovery of rogue horse meat in a wide range of beef products has thrown the European meat industry into disarray in recent weeks. A Taco Bell spokesman said the company had voluntarily ordered testing of its beef products in light of the scandal affecting other European retailers and food manufacturers. Opinion: Horse meat scandal shines spotlight on murky horse trade "Based on that testing, we learned ingredients supplied to us from one supplier in Europe tested positive for horse meat," he said. Beef was immediately taken off the menu and will not be served again until the company is satisfied that suppliers meet its standards, he said. "We apologize to our customers and take this matter very seriously as food quality is our highest priority," he said. Taco Bell UK has informed the UK Food Standards Agency, which has been leading the investigation into unauthorized horse meat in Britain, he said. What's behind the horse meat contamination scandal? Two of the three UK Taco Bell outlets are in Essex, northeast of London, and the third is in Manchester, in northern England. There is no link in terms of products to Taco Bell in the United States or other outlets operated by Yum Brands, the spokesman added. Yum also owns Pizza Hut and KFC. The horse meat scandal has extended across Europe, with questions raised over slaughterhouses and food suppliers in a number of countries. The Food Standards Agency released the results Friday of the latest round of testing ordered on products labeled beef across the UK food industry. So far, more than 99% of tests continue to show no horse DNA at or above the level of 1%, it said. Horse meat is not harmful in itself but authorities are concerned by its unauthorized presence in case it is tainted with a veterinary drug used to treat horses. Phenylbutazone, also known as bute, is not allowed to enter the food chain because it can pose a risk to humans. The European Union said last month it intends to begin testing meat across all 27 member states. February 27, 2013 -- Updated 2244 GMT (0644 HKT) Uganda is one of the world's poorest countries but there is one industry that's booming -- international child adoptions. Bud does it put children at risk? March 1, 2013 -- Updated 1426 GMT (2226 HKT) Kenya's most critical and complex election since independence starts Monday. It will impact the country and the way the world views Africa. March 1, 2013 -- Updated 0108 GMT (0908 HKT) Rats have collaborated telepathically across continents in the first use of neurotechnology to transmit thoughts between brains. March 1, 2013 -- Updated 1303 GMT (2103 HKT) Rising from the desert like a white Arabian castle, Umm Qarn has all the trimmings you'd expect of a six-star luxury hotel. March 1, 2013 -- Updated 0119 GMT (0919 HKT) Japanese and North Korea children spend hundreds on French Fries at McDonalds and throw parties. Erin Burnett reports. March 1, 2013 -- Updated 1225 GMT (2025 HKT) Arthur Caplan explains why keeping smokers out of the hospital work force unless it protects patients makes him very nervous. February 28, 2013 -- Updated 1221 GMT (2021 HKT) What's "normal" for most couples? How often they have sex? How sexually adventurous they are? We know the answers. February 28, 2013 -- Updated 2048 GMT (0448 HKT) A group of surfers were enjoying a day on the waves until some killer whales came to feed on sea lions swimming nearby. Watch for more.