Irish authorities say pork products contaminated with toxic chemicals could have been exported to as many as 25 countries.

The scare has prompted authorities to issue a mass recall.

In Britain supermarkets are clearing their shelves and consumers are being urged to dispose of any pork product sourced from Ireland since last September.

Although health authorities say consumers would have to eat enormous quantities of the contaminated meat to become ill, they are taking no chances.

It is believed animal feed used on a number of farms was mixed possibly with oil containing dioxins although it is still not clear exactly how it happened.

Affected animals will have to be destroyed and talks have begun about how farmers will be compensated.

The Irish farmers association says with all the suspect farms identified, safe supplies of pork should be available in a few days.