The Halal Food Authority (HFA) has hit back at criticism of its accreditation process after more revelations.

It comes during a week when it was revealed processed beef meals have been dropped from all Lancashire County Council schools after horse meat was found in halal beefburgers.

Lancashire County Council (LCC) had only months ago backed food accredited by the HFA. It was a highly embarrassing revelation for both the LCC and HFA.

The HFA has released a statement claiming that it takes ‘mixing or contamination of halal with non-halal products very seriously’.

The HFA also said it was disappointed at ‘misleading propaganda against the standards of Halal Food Authority’.

A statement from HFA read, “HFA also undertakes that all the ingredients contained in the products in question were free from any doubtful substances, porcine materials, and/or alcohol.

“The only likely cause for the Pork DNA to be introduced in those products seems to be cross contamination.

“In the wake of the Pork DNA and horse meat scandals the HFA has brought in extra mandatory controls and implemented more stringent checks and balances to our existing halal certification criteria.

“It has been brought to our attention, through general public, who have raised serious concerns over the ill-informed and ill-placed press releases from some establishments and individuals who have been spreading aversive and inaccurate information with regards to the criteria of Halal Food Authority for verification of halal foods.”

The HFA also responded to criticism from the Muslim Council of Britain.

“We are very sad that the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) has issued a statement which falls below the professional standard expected of them.

“MCB is an umbrella body which should have played a completely unbiased and binding role to bring the various halal certification standards and criteria together that prevail in the UK today.

“Should they have any conclusive information about the DNA results that HFA are not aware of at the moment, they should share this information with us and the general public immediately, to support their decision in the statement."