The BBC's Jon Holden: Recalls mainly affect trade customers

The turkeys and some portions of meat with the Church Farm label are mainly supplied to caterers and cash and carry outlets operated by the Booker company.

Frozen Church Farm goods are unaffected.

The company issued a recall after a small number of the fresh turkeys were found to have an unpleasant smell when they were removed from their packaging.

'Low risk'

The recall mainly affects Booker's trade customers.

Members of the public who have bought Church Farm turkeys were advised to ask their retailer who supplied it.

A Booker spokesman played down any danger. "We believe this problem only applies to a small number of birds, but we are taking the precaution of a general recall which may involve up to 20,000 turkeys," he said.

"Booker has not taken this decision lightly and we deeply regret the inconvenience this will cause over the Christmas period."

He added that the suspect turkeys could have been bought from any of the 190 Booker wholesale depots in England, Wales or Scotland.

"It is very unlikely that any have reached members of the public so far. But we had to act very quickly, with Christmas so close," he said.

Refunds offered

The spokesman said Church Farm fresh turkeys and turkey portions bought in other outlets were not subject to recall.

Tests are being carried out to determine the cause of the smell described as "quite strong, and pungent" and immediately noticeable.

The company has promised to refund double the value of affected goods.

The British Turkey Information Service offered some reassurance to consumers."The products affected by this recall represent only a minuscule percentage of the 11m turkeys which can be enjoyed with total confidence this Christmas," it said.

Booker has set up a phone line for recall inquiries on 0800 328 2290.