Grain merchant Gleadell has warned farmers to check their wheat stores thoroughly after lead shot has been repeatedly found in wheat supplied to food manufacturers.

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Gleadell Director David Sheppard said on Friday, "We have had several recent instances of flour millers and breakfast food manufacturers finding lead shot in wheat. The knock-on effects of finding lead shot on delivery are obvious – rejection, extra haulage, loss of premium and the cost of cleaning – and if it gets into finished products the potential costs will be significantly greater still."

"In the light of this information we would strongly advise all farmers to check their stores and grain stocks thoroughly for lead shot."

Lead shot is banned from use in a number of EU countries, as the poisonous metal has been shown to harm wildlife (predominantly ducks and geese) and the wider environment. There have been moves to investigate lead shot by EU and UK government agencies, though these have been fiercely opposed by 'field sports' groups in Britain.  

In Denmark, the government is phasing in a ban on tungsten shot, as well as lead. The government has the backing of the Danish hunters' association, which has said that in cases such as these, health risks are too serious to be ignored.