French minced meat batch infected with E.coli

PARIS, March 25 (Reuters) - One of France's top food preparation companies said on Tuesday a consignment of minced meat had been contaminated with E.coli bacteria in a batch one newspaper said had been eaten by thousands of people.

Socopa said in a statement routine tests run on meat prepared on March 10-11 had discovered E.coli, but the presence of the bacteria had not been confirmed for around 10 days.

French media reports said the delay had allowed consumers to purchase the contaminated meat unawares.

The results had yet to be confirmed by a national laboratory, the company said: "This explains the delay of 10 days between the start and the end of the test."

Socopa said it had taken the necessary steps to inform the authorities.

Le Parisien newspaper said the bacteria was found in more than two tonnes of beef, which had been supplied to more than 100 supermarkets or shops.

Distributors of the meat, including Carrefour (CARR.PA) and Monoprix, began informing shoppers they had sold the infected goods on March 21, the reports said.

There have been no reports of victims with serious illnesses. Le Parisien said symptoms could range from stomach aches to serious kidney problems.

(Reporting by Tamora Vidaillet and Valerie Parent; editing by Chris Johnson)