Denis Lynn, chief executive of Lynn’s Country Foods, told the Belfast News Letter that widely-reported claims that sausages can increase the risk of cancer failed to distinguish between cured sausages and British-style sausages.

A legal letter sent to the WHO on behalf of the business states: “Whilst we appreciate the job your organisation has in properly highlighting health risks in food consumption, it cannot be applied in such a way as to damage innocent businesses such as our client through clumsily structured reports and misunderstanding of the classification and different manufacturing techniques of the same family of products.”

Mr Lynn said the letter was sent to encourage the WHO to “come out and clarify their position”, but that “all British-style sausage makers could sue them”.

However, he added that there “is no question that we could possibly lose” if the row went to court.

Mr Lynn’s issue is not with the WHO report in question, but a “questions and answers section” published by the organisation which he said was “misleading”.

Owen Paterson, former UK food and rural affairs minister, gave his backing to Mr Lynn’s complaint and said he would also write to the WHO.