LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's Food Standards Agency (FSA) has urged food producers to stop using a food coloring used in sausages and burgers following advice that it may cause cancer in animals.

The FSA said the dye, Red 2G (E128), was only present in a small percentage of meat products and was not permitted in any other foods.

"Red 2G is likely to only be present in the specified products at very low levels and does not pose an immediate health risk to consumers," the FSA said in a statement.

The recommendation follows laboratory tests carried out by the European Food Safety Authority (FSA), which showed the dye could damage the genetic material in cells and cause cancer in animals.

"On the basis of the EFSA evaluation, the FSA recommends that food producers stop using Red 2G," the statement said.

The FSA said the use of additives in Britain was governed by European legislation and a meeting of the European Commission's standing committee on July 20 would discuss what action should be taken on Red 2G.

Under EU law, the dye is permitted only for use in breakfast sausages with a minimum cereal content of 6 percent and burger meat with a minimum vegetable/cereal content of 4 percent.