Britain plucks saskatoon berries from store shelves

A little berry from the Canadian Prairies is causing a big trade kerfuffle as European officials question its safety.

Britain is pulling products made with saskatoon berries off store shelves, and other European countries could follow.

A spokesperson for Britain's Food Standards Agency says there's no history of people in Europe eating Saskatoons so health officials want to be sure they're safe.

Widely used for centuries by aboriginals, the berries are used in Canada for things such as jam, pie and cider. Canadian officials insist they are safe to eat.

The saskatoon berry is native to the Canadian Prairies, the Northwest Territories, the Yukon, Alaska, British Columbia and the northwestern and north central United States.

With an appearance and taste similar to a blueberry, the saskatoon berry (Amelanchier alnifolia) belongs to the Rose family.