Supermarkets were forced to withdraw about 50 salmon products from their shelves yesterday, after it emerged they may have been contaminated with diesel.

Ten supermarkets, including Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's and Morrisons, have had to withdraw products ranging from Tesco's salmon en croute to Co-op's salmon fillets. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) said salmon supplied by Marine Harvest to Morrisons and to a second firm, Young's Seafood, who make their own brand as well as those for other retailers, is believed to be the source of the contamination.

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©Goncalo Ddiniz/Alamy
Salmon fillets and other fish on ice at a counter.


The FSA said the affected salmon was not thought to be dangerous but the white spirit taint would give the fish an unpleasant taste. A FSA statement read: "The chemicals causing the problem are present at low levels and are very unlikely to be a risk to health."

Marine Harvest is investigating the possible cause of the contamination, but believes it has been caused by diesel, possibly from a vehicle during transport to a processing plant.

Sainsbury's has had to withdraw 18 products. It said they were removed yesterday and customers would be able to buy fresh products from today. "As a precautionary measure we have removed from sale a number of salmon products because of a potential taint," it said.

"Sainsbury's is committed to the highest standards and we can reassure our customers that there is no risk to health whatsoever from inadvertently eating any of the affected products."

Morrisons has recalled all products in its fresh, but not organic, Scottish salmon range from the February 10-13 use-by date. It emphasised there was no health risk and added that signs had been placed in stores to inform customers of the situation. "Customers can return the products to any store and get a full refund," said a spokeswoman.

Morrisons was the first of the so-called "big four" to recall products on Wednesday, with Asda, Booths, Budgens, the Co-op, Morrisons, Nisa-Today, Sainsbury's, ShopRite, Somerfield and Tesco all withdrawing products yesterday. All the affected products have use-by dates between February 7 and 28.

Products subject to recall include prepacked Asda salmon fillets and steaks, Asda Extra Special fish pie, Co-op fillets, Morrisons lemon and pepper fillets and smoked salmon parcels, Somerfield best-ever salmon, and Tesco's salmon en croute and finest creamy fish pie.

Tesco said: "We want to reassure customers that there is no danger to their health from these products - they just won't taste particularly good."