Following reports that Cadbury Schweppes could face a damages case as the most likely cause of a salmonella outbreak, the Liberal Democrats have renewed their calls for the prosecution of the company for not notifying the authorities of the infection in their chocolate for five months.

Liberal Democrat Shadow DEFRA Secretary, Chris Huhne has also revealed that the Food Standards Agency is now supporting a potential prosecution by local authorities with a fighting fund and manpower.

He said:

"This concrete support package for a prosecution will turn up the heat on Cadbury Schweppes, whose excuses are already melting away.

"Cadbury has fallen well below the high standards expected of a leading food and drink manufacturer. This looks like a case of corporate cover-up when what was needed was an honest owning-up.

"A prosecution would provide a test case to determine the seriousness with which food businesses take their safety obligations."