Para Red scare heightens in the UK

10/05/05 Following the major Sudan Red scare in February, UK consumers are once again being held on alert over an illegal chemical dye in food. The UK Food Standards Agency has extended its list for foods containing Para Dye to 66, after a further 19 products were added last night. Food industry tests have shown that Para Red dye has been used to adulterate chilli and cayenne powder, which has in turn been used in the manufacture of large numbers of patés, sauces and ready meals supplied to UK shops. The European Commission will hold a meeting with member states today to consider the best way to tackle the problem of the contamination of spices with illegal dyes.

Para Red is an industrial dye that is not permitted for use in food. It is chemically similar to Sudan I and is legitimately found in printing ink. The FSA says that at the levels found in the foods listed, any risk is likely to be very small. However, the Agency's independent scientific experts have advised that although there is very limited data available it would be prudent to assume that it could be a genotoxic carcinogen and so exposure to it should be as low as is reasonably practical. It is sensible that people don’t eat any of the products.

The FSA  Agency’s independent scientific experts advise that it would be prudent to assume that Para Red, like Sudan I, could be a genotoxic carcinogen, which means it could cause cancer by damaging DNA, and so exposure to it should be as low as reasonably practical. The contaminated spice was supplied by Spanish company, Ramon Sabater, and is believed to originate in Uzbekistan. The updated list of removed products now includes those from Asda, Co-op, Iceland, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Waitrose, Somerfield and Morrison’s, while products from the brands Chicago Town and Patak’s have also been affected.