An internet claim that badger cull protesters have contaminated supermarket milk in Somerset and Gloucestershire where culls are planned is under investigation by police and national agencies.
Supplies at Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury's have been tampered with, according to a message posted online on a US website called Bite Back on Tuesday.
A group, calling itself the Animal Rights Militia, claimed to "have no intention of hurting people, only profits" and added: "We ask that the supermarkets immediately withdraw the milk and cut all ties with the cull zone farmers."
It claimed that milk at ten stores had been contaminated by "an undisclosed substance".
The Government has approved culls in Gloucestershire and West Somerset in the fight against the spread of bovine TB. The culls can begin on June 1.
An Avon and Somerset Police spokesman said: "We're aware of a suggestion that some milk may have been contaminated and we have started an investigation. We're working closely with national agencies and the British Retail Consortium as is standard in these cases."
