Contamination of TRS Wholesale Company Ltd Brand Tandoori Masala Barbecue Ground Spices and Tandoori Barbecue Spices with Sudan I dye

Thursday 11 September 2003

Category C : Action as deemed necessary

Heads of Environmental Health Services and Directors of Trading Standards will wish to be aware that T.R.S. Brands of Tandoori Masala Barbecue Ground Spices and Tandoori Masala Barbecue Spices have been found to be contaminated with the illegal dye, Sudan I.

Sudan I is not a permitted colour under the Colours in Food Regulations 1995. It is considered to be a genotoxic carcinogen and its presence, at any level is not permitted in foodstuffs for any purpose.

This product has been on sale in T.R.S. Wholesale Co Ltd Cash and Carry outlets in Southall, Middlesex, Bethnal Green, London and Leyton, London

On the 1st September 2003 the Company placed point of sales recall notices in their outlets and undertook a trade withdrawal of all affected product with the following codes and specification;

TRS Tandoori Masala Barbecue Ground Spice 1kg - BBE SEPT 2004 L2 247
TRS Tandoori Masala Barbecue Ground Spice 400g - BBE FEB 2005 L3 037
TRS Tandoori Masala Barbecue Spices 400g - BBE APR 2005 L3 112

No other TRS Wholesale products are known to be affected.

Identification of the product.
The Tandoori Masala Barbecue Ground Spice and Tandoori Masala Barbecue Spice are packed into 400g clear plastic sachets that are heat sealed at each end. The front of the pack displays the TRS Logo in the top left hand corner with the product description adjacent to it. The centre of the pack shows a female dressed in red and orange preparing food. The weight of the pack is in the bottom right hand corner. The ingredients are displayed on the back of the packet.
The 1kg plastic bags displays the same pictorial image.

To assist Local Authorities in correct identification of this product, pictures can be viewed at the link below.

Actions to be taken by local authorities:

The product presents a health risk if consumed in sufficient quantity, and does not comply with the food safety requirements specified in the Food Safety Act 1990 due to contamination with Sudan I. In addition Sudan I is not a permitted colour.

It is believed that the trade withdrawal has been effective and that it is unlikely that any affected product remains on sale. However there is the possibility that affected product remains within the catering trade. If any of this product is found within their area, enforcement officers should ensure that it is withdrawn and destroyed, if necessary using powers under The Food Safety Act. Local Authorities are therefore asked, to consider providing local publicity at the next available opportunity to this issue. For that purpose Local Authorities may wish to refer to the Food Standards Agency’s press release which can be found at the link below as a guide as to what to say in any local news release.