SOME would say you'd have to be nuts to need the warning. A consumer has written to the Christchurch-based company which produced a bag of salted cashews with the cautionary message: "Contains nuts".

Bob Miles has asked the company where he can buy such a product which doesn't contain nuts.

"I just thought it was absurd. There is probably some government rule that says you have to carry this warning," he said.

Robin Strongman, founder and managing director of the Harvest Foods firm which mixes and packages nuts and other items at its Wilverley Road base in Somerford, admitted the warning might seem stupid.

"I can see the irony, but it is merely a protection for customers with all the concern over alpha toxins and nut allergies," he said.

"It is not the law and it is not even a protection in law. We are just trying to inform customers as much as possible.

"It is a bit stupid, I agree, but that is the way we do it," he said.

Mr Strongman said his firm had been operating for more than 20 years buying nuts and other products from importers and producing a range of snacks and mueslis sold through local pubs, off-licences, catering establishments and other outlets.

He said some products contained only nuts, others a mix of nuts, fruit and cereals, and others such as chocolate raisins contained no nuts but were prepared on premises where nuts were used.

Have you noticed packaging with a safety warning which you think is crazy? Email newsdesk@bournemouthecho.co.uk or ring our reader response line on 01202 411455.

First published: August 9