Potentially poisonous sausages on sale

VILNIUS, Lithuania, April 29 (UPI) -- Some Lithuania-produced sausages could become poisonous when barbecued, but the delicacy is still on sale in markets across the country, a veterinarian said.

Zenonas Stanevicius, deputy director of the state food and veterinary service, said talks are under way with processed meat producers and the Ministry of Agriculture to ban the sale of the sausages or put warning labels on the product, the Baltic Times reported Wednesday.

The so-called "picnic sausages" or "weekend sausages" contain a food preservative, E250, that turns poisonous when baked on an open fire. For safe consumption, the sausages should be boiled.

Stanevicius said talks with meat producers and government officials could last for another month.

Meat producers admit their sausages could become poisonous but do not make any effort to warn consumers, Baltic Times said.