NORTH BRABANT, Netherlands – Dutch authorities arrested the director of a meat processing company for allegedly mixing horse meat with beef and re-labeling the product as beef, according to news reports. If convicted, he faces a maximum of six years in prison.

The processor is being reported as Selten's meat works, and local media are identifying the man arrested under suspicion of fraud as Willy Selten. The Associated Press reported that an interim director was also arrested, and that an administrative employee is suspected of fraud but has not been detained.


Authorities allege the company bought 300 tons of horsemeat from the Netherlands, Great Britain and Ireland and repackaged the meat as beef. Reuters reported that Selten admitted mixing horse meat with beef, but only at the request of a client.