Chilli powder imported from India containing Sudan I dye used in Favourit brand seasonings

Tuesday 30 September 2003

Category C: For action as deemed necessary: NORTHERN IRELAND ONLY.

Chief Environmental Health Officers were advised in a Food Hazard Warning issued on 17 September 2003 that contaminated chilli powder containing an illegal dye Sudan I, has been imported into the country from India and used in Favourit brand products packed by Martin Foods, Belfast, BT15 2GG.

Sudan I is not a permitted colour under the Colours in Food Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996. It is considered to be a genotoxic carcinogen and its presence, at any level, is not permitted in foodstuffs for any purpose.

Further investigation has revealed that other Favourit brand products are contaminated with Sudan 1 and the products listed in Food Hazard Warning 25/2003 were distributed to other premises not previously identified.

The Favourit brand products listed below have also been identified as containing Sudan I. The company has, on 25th September 2003, undertaken a trade withdrawal of these products with date codes between December 2004 and September 2005 inclusive. Products with date codes of November 2004 or before, or October 2005 or later are not affected:

Products:

• Favourit Madras Curry Powder 3kg
• Favourit Chilli Powder Hot 3kg

The 3kg products are packaged in a white plastic bag. Further assistance in identifying the products can be obtained at the links below where photographs of the bags are available.

The 3kg products affected have been distributed in Northern Ireland through the following wholesalers:

• Golden Glen Ltd, Lissue Industrial Estate, Lisburn
• O’Kane Food Service, Hillhall Road, Lisburn
• Blacks Catering Foods, Belfast

The 50g and 500g products listed in Food Hazard Warning 25/2003 have been distributed in Northern Ireland through the following wholesalers and retailers not previously identified:

• John Henderson Ltd, Newtownabbey
• Western Catering Supplies, Omagh
• Savage and Whitten Wholesale Ltd, Newry
• D&D Food Services, Londonderry
• Aghadowey Food Service Ltd, Coleraine
• Holmes Catering Services, Ballymoney
• Blacks Catering Foods, Belfast
• J&J Haslett, Dunmurray
• Conways Nisa, Cookstown
• H A Emerson & Son, Armagh
• Greens Food Fare, Lisburn
• McAnnerny Bros, Armagh
• P&G Foods, Portadown
• J C Stewart, Magherafelt
• McCartneys Butchers, Moira

For information the 50g and 500g products listed in 25/2003 were as follows:

• Favourit Madras Curry Powder 50g
• Favourit Aromatic Spicy and Hot Madras Curry Powder 500g
• Favourit Chilli Powder 50g
• Favourit Quality Fine Ground Hot Chilli Powder 500g

A link to the previous Food Hazard Warning is provided below.

Action to be taken by district councils:

The products detailed above present a health risk if consumed in sufficient quantity, and do not comply with the food safety requirements specified in the Food Safety (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 due to contamination with Sudan I. In addition, it is not a permitted colour under the Colours in Food Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996.

District Councils, within whose area the above wholesalers and retailers are located, are requested to contact the premises concerned to verify that the trade withdrawal from those premises has been effective.

If any of these products are found within their area, enforcement officers should ensure that they are withdrawn and destroyed, if necessary using powers under The Food Safety (NI) Order 1991.