British puddings ordered to be pence-less

LONDON, Oct. 20 (UPI) -- A 500-year-old British tradition of hiding a sixpence in Christmas pudding has been quashed by health officials who say coins in food are choking hazards.

The Sainbury supermarket chain spent months scouring Britain for the now-obsolete sixpence coins to include in their upcoming Christmas puddings, but were told to nix the idea by health officials, The Telegraph reports.

A company spokesman said the company still intends to use the coins.

"Instead we have provided a collector's card with the coin attached that you can place under a plate or table mat for one lucky friend or family member to find," the spokesman said.

The coins and other good luck charms have been stirred into Christmas puddings for more than 500 years. Everyone attending would stir the pudding while making a silent wish, and whoever found the coin in their pudding allegedly would get their wish.

Health officials also said with more microwaves in use now, coins could cause arcing or fires, the report said