Four major supermarket chains have withdrawn almost 50 salmon products from their shelves amid fears they had been contaniminated with diesel.

Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons were all affected, along with Budgens, Co-op, Somerfield, ShopRite, Nisa-Today and Booths.

The range of products is believed to have been contaminated with white spirit used in diesel giving the food, including pre-packed salmon meals, fish pies and portions of smoked salmon, an unpleasant taste.

The tainted fish is believed to have been supplied by the Norwegian-based Marine Harvest, according to the Food Standards Agency. The FSA stressed the products were “very unlikely” to pose a health risk.

Marine Harvest Scotland, based in Fort William in the west Highlands, said the diesel contamination may have come from a boat as fish were trawled on one of their farms. The company produces fish in the western isles, as well as in the Lochaber area around Fort William, in Wester Ross and on Skye.

A spokesman said the firm was "cooperating very closely with its customers, government agencies and other stakeholders."

All the affected products have use-by dates between February 7 and 28.

Sainsbury’s said it had removed 18 different products, but confirmed it would restock shelves with new produce by Sunday. A spokesman said: “Due to a potential taint in some salmon products from one of our suppliers, as a precautionary measure we have removed from sale a number of lines because the taint affects the taste.

“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 affected products.”

Morrisons were first to remove stock when it recalled almost 30 Scottish salmon products on Wednesday.

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