The Vermont Agency of Agriculture is recommending that certain metal maple syrup cans be discontinued because of their odor.

Officials tested the cans and determined the smell came from petroleum compounds.

The Health Department said the health risk is negligible.

The distributor of the cans, New England Container Company of Swanton, has agreed stop selling the pint and quart containers.

Officials say less than 15 percent of syrup produced this year in Vermont has been packaged in these metal cans. They were distributed to various states and Canada.

But the Agency says protecting the purity of Vermont's signature crop is paramount.