COUNCIL watchdogs are warning that incorrectly labelled and wrongly described imported soft drinks could pose a health risk.

Following the prosecution of a local importer in June, Trading Standards officers discovered that large quantities of well-known soft drinks had been imported from Ecuador, re-labelled in England and sold to a number of retailers in the area. After a complaint from a resident, officers tested samples of the drinks and found that they contained excessive amounts of the preservative Benzoic Acid.

While this preservative may be used in soft drinks, consumption at a higher rate than UK legislation allows for is thought to cause health problems for some people. The officers also found that an orange flavour drink, marked as containing five per cent orange juice, contained no orange at all.

Retailers are warned that although many well-known brands of various foods are produced for sale around the world, they are often made to different recipes to satisfy the tastebuds of people in different countries.

Therefore, while imports from other European Community countries are generally acceptable, those from further afield -- which are now on sale in local shops -- may not be.

Consumers or retailers who have any concerns over the labelling or composition of any foreign foods should contact the Trading Standards Section on 01744 456306.