Tesco has been revealed as the supermarket which may have infected thousands of customers with hepatitis E from sausages and pork of EU pigs .

Public Health England (PHE) came under fire for initially not naming "Supermarket X" after the researcher monitored the shopping habits of 60 infected people and found the consumption of sausages and ham from one supermarket was a recurring feature.

The HEV G3-2 strain of hepatitis E can cause liver cirrhosis and neurological damage and is transmitted by sausages and pork products from Europe - mainly Holland and Germany. UK pigs do not have this particular virus strain.

The research found that imported pork infects an estimated 150,000 to 200,000 British people a year with the virus.

PHE had stressed that the discovery of the hepatitis E virus strain "does not infer blame on the supermarket" and along with the Food Standards Agency (FSA) said they would not be naming the store.

However the decision prompted fury among social media users, with one deeming it "outrageous" and another saying the public "has a right to know".

The Hepatitis E virus could have been unintentionally transmitted to thousands of people through sausages and ham from Europe, Public Health England warned
The Hepatitis E virus could have been unintentionally transmitted to thousands of people through sausages and ham from Europe, Public Health England warned

Granddad Ken Koi claimed that the "biggest scandal" in the whole situation was that the supermarket hadn't been named.

Another user, Dave Manton, said: "Really do think this "unnamed" supermarket should be named!! Not for a blame or claim game but so people know if they need to be checked out."

Following the public call for the supermarket to be identified a statement had been released naming the store as Tesco.

Dr Jenny Harries, Public Health England (PHE), said: "The risk to public health in England from hepatitis E infection is low, it is usually a mild, self-limiting illness which most people will clear without any symptoms.

"Tesco was not named in our study because we attach no fault to the company. This study was a statistical analysis that found an association between clinical hepatitis E and sausage and ham products rather than direct causation.

"Most of the cases involved the G3-2 hepatitis E strain, which has not been found in UK pigs, and the appearance of this strain is likely to reflect complex animal health practices within Europe, rather than any processes used by the retailer. PHE understands all sausages sold under the Tesco brand are exclusively sourced within the UK.

"The Food Standards Agency is working with government, industry bodies and scientists across Europe to better understand and address the risk of foodborne hepatitis E infection."

The virus can cause liver cirrhosis and neurological damage
The virus can cause liver cirrhosis and neurological damage

None of the store's "own-brand" pork products are thought to have led to any infections.

The research was said to have been carried out between 2014 and 2016 but concerns over its "sensitivity" meant it was only recently published.

A Tesco spokesperson said: "Tesco welcomes PHE’s statement that recognises Tesco products were not the cause of the hepatitis E infections in its research.

"The sausages on sale at Tesco at the time of the research were sourced from the UK and continue to be today.

"We do of course recognise the risk of hepatitis E in pork and work very closely with farmers, suppliers, PHE, FSA and the industry to reduce its risk. We also provide customers with easy to follow advice on the packaging of all our pork products setting out how to handle it safely and cook it thoroughly."

There are claims that the supermarket in question is Tesco
The supermarket in question was revealed as being Tesco

An FSA spokeswoman said they are aware of the report's findings and are reviewing all aspects of hepatitis E infection with other government departments and industry.

"The risk from acquiring Hepatitis E virus (HEV) from eating thoroughly cooked pork or pork products is low," she said.

"As a precaution, the FSA advises consumers that all whole cuts of pork, pork products and offal should be thoroughly cooked until steaming hot throughout, the meat is no longer pink and juices run clear."

With the increase in figures of those affected, NHS Blood and Transplant have reportedly begun screening all donated blood and will do the same for donated organs and tissues in the future.