The Food Standards Agency today recalled a batch of James White Fresh Dry Bramley Apple Juice, after a routine survey revealed 'unacceptably high levels' of the chemical patulin. It issued an official food hazard warning asking local enforcement officers to ensure that the juice has been removed from sale.

The naturally occurring mycotoxin is produced by some moulds that grow naturally on fruits, particularly apples, and can affect the developing foetus and cause neurological and immunological effects in animals, so human exposure to this chemical should be kept as low as possible. It has also been found to cause cancer in animals if injected in concentrated doses.

Advising both consumers and caterers not to use the apple juice drink, the FSA said it posed an 'unacceptable risk to public health'.

Steve Wearne, head of chemical contaminants at the FSA, said:'Our regular survey work picked up this problem. Whilst there has been action to withdraw the product from sale, that may not have been comprehensive and consumers may have some still in the cupboard at home.

'The agency's advice is that this particular juice should not be drunk. Consumers should throw it away or return it to where they bought it.' The UK apple juice industry is lobbying against proposed changes to EU law to make the legal limit for patulin 25 parts per billion. In the UK the limit is currently 50 parts per billion. Producers fear that a further reduction in the limit could put them out of business as they would would be required to prove their juice does not exceed patulin limits by expensive corrected test methods.

The juice in question was not on sale in high street supermarkets and was only available from approximately 160 outlets around the country. Most of the outlets were farm shops, garden centres and plant nurseries around the country. Full details of outlets are available on the FSA website: www.food.gov.uk.

Details of the affected product are as follows: Fresh Dry Bramley Apple Juice Brand name: James White Packing and size: 75cl glass bottles Best before: September 2003 Batch code: SEP03D