43 more products recalled in Sudan scare

09/03/05 The UK Food Standards Agency has reported that a further 43 products that companies have withdrawn from the food chain as a result of Sudan I contamination, bringing the total to 580. The recall of products is now being called the biggest in British history and has involved soups, sauces, crisps and ready meals. The food scare is estimated to be costing about £100m.

This dye was in a batch of chilli powder used by Premier Foods to manufacture a Worcester sauce, which was then used as an ingredient in a wide range of products.

The FSA has said that since July 2003 all chili powder imported into the UK has to be certified free of Sudan I. The FSA and local authorities randomly sample more than 1,000 consignments a year of imported chilli products. However, this batch predates this sampling program and was uncovered after sampling of Worcester sauce produced by Premier Foods and exported to Italy.