CONTAMINATED peanut butter and peanut paste may be on sale to the public, health officials in East London warned today. A public alert to shoppers and retailers has been issued by Tower Hamlets

CONTAMINATED peanut butter and peanut paste may be on sale to the public, health officials in East London warned today.

A public alert to shoppers and retailers has been issued by Tower Hamlets council's Environmental Health department.

The products imported from Ghana are unlawfully labelled and contaminated with aflatoxins, naturally occurring poisonous substances which are produced by a fungus, a council statement warns. It can cause liver problems if consumed.

WITHDRAWN

The Food Standards Agency has been unable to find out the exact distribution.

But it is thought the peanut products went out through direct van sales to shops who sell African or Caribbean food products.

Shoppers who have been sold the peanut produce are being urged to contact the Environmental Health Office or phone 020-7364 5008 with the details.

Shops stocking it are to remove it from the shelves and put up recall notices for the product to be returned.