UPDATE 1-Ireland says horse DNA in its burgers came from Poland

* British food, Irish beef industry rocked by scandal

* Dublin says Polish ingredient contains 20 pct horse DNA

DUBLIN, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Beef containing horse DNA that was supplied by an Irish company to major food companies like Tesco (Other OTC: TSCDY - news) originated in Poland, Ireland (OTC BB: IRLD - news) 's agriculture department said on Saturday.

The British food industry has been rocked by the revelation retailers sold beef products that contained horse DNA, a scandal that has also left Ireland's 2 billion euros ($2.6 billion) beef industry reeling from the knock-on effects.

Results of tests showed that Polish ingredients used by Irish burger manufacturer Silvercrest contained 4.1 percent horse DNA, the agriculture department in a statement.

It said further tests of the Polish ingredient concerned showed up to 20 percent horse DNA content relative to beef, confirming the raw material from Poland to be the source of equine DNA content in certain burgers.

Tests on samples taken from Irish food ingredients were negative for equine DNA and agriculture minister Simon Coveney said the results maintained the integrity of Irish food production.

Burger King, one of the most popular fast-food chains in Britain and Ireland, said on Thursday it had stopped using Silvercrest's products. There was no horse DNA found in products sold by Burger King.

Smaller retail chains Aldi, Lidl and Iceland have also sold beef products found to contain horse DNA.

Silvercrest's parent company ABP Foods reiterated the plant had never knowingly sold equine products and that it would appoint a new management team, independently audit third party suppliers and source all future raw material from Britain and Ireland.

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UPDATE 1-Ireland says horse DNA in its burgers came from Poland