Deadly poisons are being served up in food outlets across Kent, trading standards warned today.

Poisons including arsenic, sulphur dioxide and cadmium have been found in everything from dried fruit to dressed crab.

Tests carried out by officers also revealed a toxic fried fish with dangerously high levels of histamine.

The fish was considered so dangerous the Food Standards Agency issued a national recall based.

Kent Trading Standards assistant head Ian Treacher said: "Food testing is an important part of our work and provides an invaluable service to the public.

"We identify those foods which pose a health risk and as a result, we have brought about changes in labelling and even in some cases had the item banned.

"We will keep testing foods and hope customers feel reassured when they browse the shelves."

Other finds include paprika with excessive levels of the carcinogen ochratoxin and Szechuan flower pepper containing arsenic.

Officers revealed many products have now been withdrawn.