Pork products sold at a leading supermarket may have infected British shoppers with a virus that can cause liver failure and death, it has emerged.

Researchers at Public Health England (PHE) probed the shopping habits of those infected with hepatitis E and found the consumption of ham and sausages from one store was a recurring feature.

In a report published last month the government agency said the virus strain has not been detected in British pigs, and infections could be the result of eating products made outside the UK.

PHE stressed that this "does not infer blame on the supermarket" and along with the Food Standards Agency (FSA) said they will not be naming the store.

However, PHE has now reportedly confirmed the supermarket involved was Tesco.

Dr Jenny Harries from PHE said: "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."

She added that the G3-2 hepatitis E strain hasn’t been found in British pigs, and is a "mild, self-limiting illness which most people will clear without any symptoms".

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."

Since 2010 PHE said there has been an "increase in the number of non-travel cases" of the hepatitis E virus - with figures showing infections have risen from from 368 in 2010 to 1243 in 2016.

Hepatitis E, caused by the hepatitis E virus, generally results in a mild and short-term infection unless the person has a pre-existing liver disease or is pregnant.

Symptoms of the virus can include feeling flu-like, yellowing of the skin and eyes, tiredness, fever, vomiting and loss of appetite. In rare cases it can cause liver failure and prove fatal.

In the wake of the increasing infection figures, the PHE study looked at 60 individuals with no history of travel outside the UK.

The Sunday Times reports the research was carried out between 2014 and 2016, and that it is estimated 150,000 to 200,000 Britons are infected with the virus by imported pork every year.

According to the newspaper, PHE's report states: "The implicated products are pork sausages, which require cooking prior to consumption, and ready-to-eat pre-packed ham."

Researchers found the "own brand" sausages were significantly associated with infection.

An FSA spokeswoman said they are aware 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."