A WEST Dorset food producer which delivers to schools has stressed that it prepares all food from scratch as the horsemeat crisis deepens.

Local Food Links, based in Bridport, has a hot meals service for schools and nurseries operating from the kitchen at its Centre for Local Food.

It provides fresh meals daily to more than 25 schools and nurseries, and lunches at day centres for older people.

Chief executive Caroline Morgan said that they had always worked using only high-quality ingredients and that all food is prepared from scratch.

“We believe that the quality of our food is everything.

“We don’t use any processed foods.

“These problems have arisen from buying in processed meals.

“We have got a good reputation and a great relationship with quality suppliers.

“We believe that the meals we offer children are the closest you can get to cooking for them at home.

“We order straight from our butchers, we know where that meat has come from and everything is put together when it’s fresh.”

Dorset County Council has also given assurances over meat in school meals.

The authority has confirmed that its catering providers do not use suppliers that have delivered food containing horsemeat to school kitchens.