CONSUMER protection officers are warning shoppers to be on their guard against venison which contains harmful drugs.
Following the discovery of banned veterinary chemicals in meat products sold at farmers' markets in Cheshire, Liverpool and Manchester, the Food Standards Agency is advising people not to eat suspect purchases.
While not yet found in Halton, officials believe it could be only a matter of time until the produce arrives in the borough and it is feared some may have already bought the meat elsewhere and have it in their freezers.
The affected products include pheasant and venison sausages, venison and pork sausages and game pie, which were all manufactured at Sillfield Farm, End-moor, Kendal in Cumbria.
The sausages were sold in polystyrene trays wrapped in clear plastic and the pies were 1.5kg in weight and sold unwrapped.
Councillor Stan Hill, executive board member for environmental health and consumer protection division, said: 'If anybody believes they have purchased or consumed any affected red deer produce or if they still have any of these products, please contact the council environmental health department for further advice.' Anyone who thinks they may have bought the meat products should contact the council's environmental health department on 0151 424 2062 ext 3146.
