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

Wednesday 17 September 2003

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

Chief Environmental Health Officers will wish to be aware 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.

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.

The Favourit brand products listed below have been identified as containing Sudan I. The company has, on 11 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 50g
• Favourit Aromatic Spicy and Hot Madras Curry Powder 500g
• Favourit Chilli Powder 50g
• Favourit Quality Fine Ground Hot Chilli Powder 500g

No other Favourit products are affected.

The 500g products are packaged in a white tub with a red lid and the 50g products are packaged in a clear tub with a red lid.

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

• Holmes Cash and Carry, Hillview Road, Belfast
• Holmes Cash and Carry, Enniskillen
• Holmes Cash and Carry, Newtownards
• Holmes Cash and Carry, Cookstown
• Holmes Cash and Carry, Ballymena
• Holmes Cash and Carry, Coleraine
• Knox Cash and Carry, Lurgan
• Musgrave Cash and Carry, Belfast
• TNB Catering Food Services, Newtownabbey

The products have also been supplied to the Supervalu/Centra group of retail shops and a product withdrawal has been effected by Musgrave Supervalu Centra NI Ltd.

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 are located, are requested to contact the premises concerned to verify that the trade withdrawal from those premises has been effective.

Given the nature of the problem and the fact that the company has not issued any press release or point of sale notices in retail outlets, there is the possibility that affected products remain within the catering trade, independent retailers and consumers homes. 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.

If District Councils are approached by the local media on this issue they may wish to refer to the Food Standards Agency's press release which was released today, 17 September 2003.