Essex's famous jam-makers could be hit by a US ban which started with the banana war and has moved on to beef.

Tiptree-based Wilkin and Sons, which has traded with America since the turn of the century, stands to lose seven per cent of its annual turnover if two of its products disappear from US shops.

America has put together a list of European imports which could face heavy tariffs if their hormone-injected beef is not allowed into Europe.

It currently includes Wilkin's raspberry and lingenberry jams and preserves.

Europe had banned the sale of the beef but, after America protested to the World Trade Organisation, the EU was given 15 months to find scientific evidence against treated beef and the deadline expires in May.

Peter Cook, Wilkin's joint managing director, said the list of banned products was provisional at the moment and would be finalised and imposed if the beef was not allowed into Europe after the deadline.

"I contacted our American distributor yesterday who told me that 300 million dollars worth of goods spread over all European Union countries would be affected.

"He said the list as it stands represents 700 million dollars so we do not know whether or not we will be definitely included. It will be imposed on May 13 or 14.

"All we can do is try to lay in contingency plans in the interim."

He said an order had been received from America today and a 20 tonne container of raspberry products would go out next week.

"The value of our American market is seven per cent of our turnover and that is big enough to be meaningful. He said he did not know why raspberry products had been earmarked.

"If you look at the list of products some are really obscure although some are traditional products or even traditionally British."

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