A regional daily has apologised after reporting claims that a dead mouse had been found in a packet of protein shake.

The Manchester Evening News has said sorry over the story, which reported claims by a user of Myprotein’s protein shake powder that he had found a dead mouse in a packet of the product.

MyProtein threatened to take legal action over the report, which was published on 11 April, posting a statement on its website in which it described the claims as ‘fake news.’

However, the MEN has now published an apology on its website under the headline ‘Allegations were untrue’.

The apology reads: “On 11 April 2017 we published a claim by a user of Myprotein’s protein shake powder that he had found a dead mouse in a packet of it, with the implication being that the mouse had found its way into the powder during the production process, and that he believed his health had been put at risk.

“Independent investigations have proven that the mouse could not have entered the powder during the production process and this is consistent with the statement issued by MyProtein on their Facebook and Twitter pages on 14 April 2017.

“We accept that the allegations about MyProtein are untrue and we apologise to them.”

HTFP has approached the MEN for further comment.