Contamination of Bart Ground Paprika and Co-op Ground Paprika with Para Red

Friday 29 April 2005

Food Alert: for Information

Ref: 25/2005

A product recall has been issued by Bart Spices Ltd of its own Bart brand ground paprika and Co-op brand ground paprika, due to contamination with the illegal dye Para Red.

Para Red is not a permitted colour under the Colours in Food Regulations 1995 and is not permitted in foodstuffs for any purpose. Para Red is chemically very similar to Sudan I. 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.

The products affected are:

• Bart Ground Paprika in 48g glass jars, Batch Codes 5032 best before end Dec 2007 and Batch Number 5089 Best Before End Dec 2007
• Co-op Ground Paprika in 46g glass jars Batch Code 5075 Best Before End Feb 2007

No other batch / date codes of these products are known to be affected.

Bart Spices Ltd has undertaken a full product recall and is placing product recall notices in national newspapers on Saturday 30 April 2005 and today the Co-op has instructed all of its stores to remove from sale the above own label product. In addition, the Co-op will display point-of-sale notices.

A copy of the product recall notice from Bart Spices Ltd is attached to this Food Alert.