Customers at Westhill’s Costco store were left shocked after food items were recalled due to an E.coli scare.
Bosses alerted the public to the issue in a letter sent out on Tuesday.
It stated that Aberdeen Angus minced beef products, sold between September 3 and September 7, could contain the potentially deadly E.coli bacteria.
The letter advised that “any product that has been frozen or further processed and not been consumed should be destroyed”.
But it added that any which had been “cooked thoroughly and to a high temperature should not pose any risk to health.”
A spokesman for Broxburn-based AK Stoddart declined to comment, but The Press and Journal has seen the letter, signed by the supplier’s managing director, Grant Moir.
This stated: “Both the FSA England and FSS Scotland have been contacted regarding the findings and have undertaken risk assessment.
“Their advice is that if the product has been cooked thoroughly and to a high temperature it should not pose any risk to health.
“Any product that has been frozen or further processed and has not been consumed should be destroyed.
“The quality and safety of our products is of paramount importance which is why we are working closely with Costco and the relevant government agencies to inform Costco members of these findings.
“We apologise for any inconvenience or distress this may have caused.”
On social media, shoppers at the Westhill store were angered by the news, with one customer encouraging others to “shop local” at butchers to avoid contamination concerns.
Craig Wilson, manager of food safety and quality assurance for Costco, described the case as “unconfirmed.”
Mr Wilson said: “It only went to five stores, it’s not very widespread at all, but we thought it best to alert our members right away that there could be an issue, and to remind them to cook the minced beef appropriately.”
A spokeswoman for FSS Scotland said: “The risk of illness is low provided all minced beef and minced beef products are cooked thoroughly until steaming hot, with no pink meat visible.”