Food warning: chilli products

15 September 2003

Council Environmental Health Officers today passed on a warning from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) about chilli products containing the chemical dye Sudan 1.

As a result of its investigation into products on the UK market, the FSA has warned that some chilli products on sale may contain this type of food dye. This follows recent warnings about Rajah and Shaw spice products.

Sudan 1 is not permitted in food because it could cause cancer, however, there is no immediate threat of illness. People most at risk would be those eating contaminated products regularly over a long period of time.

The latest products that are known to have been contaminated with the dye are:

Johnson & Jamaica Shads Fish and Meat Seasoning and Mr Browns Original Jamaican Style Fish and Meat Curry Seasoning, which have been sold in small independent retailers in the Birmingham area.
TRS Wholesale Co. Tandoori Masala Barbecue Ground Spices and TRS Wholesale Co. Tandoori Masala Barbecue Spices, which have been sold via wholesale outlets in Middlesex and Southall, Bethnal Green and Leyton in London.
Wing Yip MT Curry Powder - Double Leaf Brand, which has been sold via wholesale outlets in Birmingham, Manchester, Cricklewood and Croydon.

Anyone who has purchased one of these products should either throw it away, or return it and request a refund from the shop where it was purchased.

Full product details, including photographs, are available on the Food Standards Agency's website at www.foodstandards.gov.uk/news/pressreleases/sudanIpress

The Council's Environmental Health Officers, based at the Pembroke Road offices, are also available to provide further advice and can be contacted on 020 7341 5282 or by emailing Food.hygiene@rbkc.gov.uk