FSA issues warning over illegal dye in food products

21/02/05 The Food Standards Agency has issued a warning advising people to avoid eating 350 food products which have been contaminated with an illegal dye.

The dye, known as Sudan I, was in a batch of chilli powder used by British food manufacturer Premier Foods to make Worcester sauce. The condiment was then used in various ready meals and cooking sauces.

The FSA has called for all products cointaining the dye, which could be linked to an increased risk of cancer, to be pulled out of supermarket shelves. All the main food retailers are affected.

Jon Bell, chief executive of the FSA, acknowledged the risk in a statement on Friday.

Premier Foods insisted that the ingredient had been supplied by "a reputable UK source", and that they had received "written assurance that the chilli powder did not contain Sudan I".

Sudan I is a red dye normally used for colouring solvents, oils, waxes, petrol, and shoe and floor polishes. It is banned as a food colourant across the European Union.

http://news.ft.com/cms/s/6c90f4c4-81d3-11d9-9e19-00000e2511c8.html