Stolen butter unsafe to eat - police

A bulk load of butter stolen from Hawke's Bay industrial park contains listeria and is not fit to be eaten, police have warned.

Thieves broke into the former Whakatu freezing works site between Hastings and Napier on Sunday and took four cartons containing four 2.5kg blocks of butter, Senior Sergeant Stu Fleming told Hawke's Bay Today.

Mr Fleming said the butter, manufactured by Canary Enterprises, had failed quality control testing as readings for listeria had been located.

"This butter is unfit for human consumption," he said.

"It had been placed in secure storage for it to be rendered down."

Anyone with information regarding the theft was asked to contact police.

- NZPA