Safari Meats dried and cured meat products have been recalled -- while New Zealand Food Safety investigates reports of illness relating to the products

Deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle says the Christchurch-based company has produced the products without the necessary food safety controls in place.

Traditionally dried and cured products must be carefully controlled as the process doesn't involve high-temperature cooking that kills bacteria.

All batches of 13 dried and cured meat products are recalled.

They should not be eaten -- instead return them to the retailer for a refund or throw them out.