Leicester City Council will not reveal results of further tests taken on a halal lamb burger believed to contain pork because of an on-going investigation.
The council withdrew the halal burgers supplied to 19 schools by Doncaster-based Paragon Quality Foods in April after it claimed tests showed up to 50 per cent pork in a sample burger.
However, this was disputed by the Yorkshire firm which claimed “independent” tests it commissioned revealed the burger did not contain any pork.
Paragon Quality Foods had considered taking legal action against the council, but has now confirmed it will not proceed with this.
A spokesman for the company said: “Paragon is a pork-free site and no contamination could have occurred here.
“We have no intention of taking legal action against any local authority council and we appreciate their efforts to ensure the integrity of the food supply chain.
“We are in full co-operation with our local authority and Leicester City Council to assist in their investigations.”
Despite this, a council spokeswoman said: “As this investigation is ongoing we can’t rule out the possibility of legal action following, and won’t be revealing any test results until this is complete.”
Although Paragon Quality Foods manufactured the burger, it was supplied to the council by the firm Hopwells, whose nearest base is Nottingham.
However, all other halal meat is supplied to the council by the Punjab Kitchen Ltd, based in Tyneside, both of which the council says are “reputable companies”.
A spokesman for Hopwells declined to comment. All other foods tested on behalf of the council complied with halal standards.
Regular tests on school food have been carried out on behalf of the council since February.
Council bosses said they were working with the Federation of Muslims and the Muslim Parents’ Association of Leicester to try to restore confidence in halal school food and will take appropriate action following the investigation.
As a result of the scandal, two schools out of 19 which receive halal food have switched to a vegetarian menu – Highfields Primary, and St Barnabas CofE Primary, in Evington.
Speaking at a children and young people’s scrutiny committee meeting, parent Raffiq Moosa said: “Any investigation by the local authority has to restore confidence in halal food provision because right now there isn’t any.”