The New Zealand Food Safety Authority warned in this month's edition of its Foodfocus newsletter that licking the spoon or mixing bowl had a "nasty bite".

A salmonella outbreak last year led to about 50 people falling ill. Investigations traced the outbreak to a batch of flour, and a number of children falling ill after baking.

Celebrity chef Jo Seager says she runs cooking classes for children and encourages students to lick the spoon and bowl. "Making a chocolate brownie and not licking the bowl seems like one of life's great tragedies."

Simon Gault, owner and chef of Euro, said the advice was "ridiculous".

"PC is getting out of hand," he said. "Look at the people who are making the rules - they have probably never had a life. They need to pull their heads in."

Laurie Powell, New Zealand Association of Bakers' president, said the advice came after an "isolated incident". "It seems it is a silly sort of warning."