A company selling whelks has recalled its products after 18 cases of salmonella food poisoning, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has said.

Experts are investigating the outbreak of a particular strain of bacteria, called Salmonella Gold-coast, and has identified potential links between it and the consumption of whelks from independent shops, market stalls and mobile seafood vans, largely in the East Anglia area.

Lynn Shellfish Ltd of King’s Lynn, which was formerly known as Heiploeg or Heiploeg and Lynn Shrimpers, has issued a recall of all batches of frozen and chilled whelks.

The products were all labelled Lynn Shellfish Ltd and the serial number was UK K1010 EC.

None of the affected product remains on sale, but consumers were warned by the FSA that if they had whelks in their fridge or freezer from independent shops, market stalls and mobile seafood vans in the East Anglia area, they should not eat them but throw them away.

“Anyone who has recently purchased and consumed whelks and is displaying the symptoms of food poisoning, such as diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach cramps and fever should contact their GP,” the FSA statement added.

Lynn Shellfish was unavailable for comment.