Tesco has apologised after staff placed non-kosher products in the kosher food section in one of its stores.

Customer Rina Sonenthal complained when she discovered the misplaced items in the Tesco branch in Finchley, north London, while shopping last Friday. The goods not carrying a hechsher included bars of chocolate, and packets of wafers and crackers.

She said she was shocked when a store manager told her that if his evening staff "see a gap somewhere they just shove anything in there ".

Ms Sonenthal, of Southgate, north London, said "I explained to the manager that it would be distressing for Jewish customers, especially if they accidentally bought non-kosher goods.

A Tesco spokesperson said: "We are grateful to the customer for pointing out that a few items were incorrectly placed in our kosher section. We have now rectified this and apologise that on the day she visited our store this occurred."