The UK’s Food Standards Agency has warned that some food products sold in the UK have been found to contain chilli powder illegally contaminated with the dye Sudan I, a chemical which could cause cancer.
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The agency said it is working with local authorities to ensure that these products are removed from sale.
“There should not be any Sudan I in food. We have already identified some relishes, chutneys and seasonings that people should avoid and our investigations are ongoing. There is no immediate threat of illness and those most at risk would be people eating contaminated products regularly over a long time,” David Statham, director of food standards and enforcement, said.
“Not all chilli powder, nor all products with chilli in them, are affected. Fresh chilli is not affected, nor are new supplies of chilli powder because checks at ports are now ensuring that it tests negative for Sudan I before it is allowed into the country,” he added.
The FSA is asking companies to withdraw and recall contaminated products as soon as they are identified. Both retail and catering products have been identified. Food hazard warnings have been sent to all local authorities with details of all the products implicated so far.
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By GlobalDataThe contaminated chilli powder has been imported from India, where certain producers are believed to have been adulterating their product with the red dye. The FSA said it was notified earlier this month by the European Commission (EC) that some products contaminated with Sudan I that had been found in France had been produced in the UK.
The French findings have led to a trail of investigations into a number of UK companies and products using chilli powder from the Indian companies identified by the EC as the source of the adulterated chilli powder. Initial tests on some of these products have produced positive results for Sudan I and the FSA is acting on these results.
Under a new EC Decision cargoes of dried and crushed or ground chilli coming into any EU Member State must now be accompanied by a certificate showing they have been tested and found to be free of Sudan I. Any consignment that does not have a certificate will be detained for sampling and analysis. Port officials can also test any other food products. Anything containing Sudan I will be seized and destroyed. Random sampling is also being undertaken by local authorities. All products found to contain Sudan I must be seized and destroyed.
More details of the contaminated products can be found here.
