A rodent-infested crisp factory in Tottenham, north London, has been closed down and batches of its product urgently recalled after mice droppings were found throughout the premises.

BMAC Food Processing Ltd was visited by environmental health officers from Haringey Council's food safety team in July as part of a routine food hygiene inspection.

The premises, in Epsl House, Constable Crescent, were found to be severely affected by a rodent infestation, with machinery contaminated with droppings. Officers immediately closed the factory and destroyed batches of crisps.

The company was served with a hygiene emergency prohibition notice and production was halted as it was deemed an imminent risk to health.

Councillor Nilgun Canver, cabinet member for enforcement and safer communities, said: "Without these routine food safety inspections, this company could have continued to operate in this filthy environment. The conditions at these premises fell well below required standards and further enforcement action will be considered once the imminent risk to health has been rectified."

The Haringey food team is now working with the Food Standards Agency to recall previous batches of crisps - Plantain Crisps 60g and 120g packets with best before dates of August 10, 2008 - as there is a possibility they could be contaminated.

The company, which was issued with an improvement notice by the Health and Safety Executive in 2004, has now undertaken a product recall of the affected batch, and point-of-sale notices are being displayed in affected shops to notify the public.

Michael Omodara, managing director of BMAC, was unavailable for comment.

No other BMAC Food Processing Ltd products are thought to have been affected.