Food Standards Agency issues warning about contaminated chilli powder found in spice mix
Wednesday 29 October 2003
Ref: 2003/0427
The Food Standards Agency today warned that some batches of a brand of spice mix sold in the UK contain chilli powder contaminated with the chemical dye Sudan I.
Affected batches of Natco Tandoori Masala have now been withdrawn from sale. The product was sold in cash and carry stores, smaller supermarkets and other retail outlets. Only packets with the batch code M9224 are contaminated with the dye, which is illegal in food.
Sudan I could cause cancer, although there is no immediate threat of illness. People most at risk would be those eating contaminated chilli powder regularly and over a long period of time.
Anyone who has purchased one of these contaminated products, which are distributed by London-based firm Natco Foods Ltd, should either throw it away, or return it and request a refund from the store where it was purchased. The product comes in 100g and 400g packets, which are predominantly yellow. Pictures of the products are attached below.
The Agency was alerted that this Tandoori Masala was affected after random tests proved positive. The Agency has been investigating which food products in the UK could have been affected by contaminated chilli powder since July. It is understood that three chilli suppliers in India had been adulterating their chilli powder with Sudan I. Many other contaminated products have already been withdrawn from sale or recalled in the UK.
Notes to editors:
The Agency was notified by the European Commission (EC) in July that some products that had been found in France to be contaminated with Sudan I had been produced in the UK. The French findings have led to a trail of investigations in the UK and other Member States into a number of companies and products using chilli powder from the Indian companies.
The three Indian companies that have been identified as the source of contaminated chilli powder have had their licence to trade suspended by the Indian Spice Board pending further investigation.
Under a new EC Decision, which came into force on 30th July 2003, any new cargoes of dried and crushed or ground chilli coming into any EU Member State must now be accompanied by a certificate showing they have been tested and found to be free of Sudan I. Any consignment that does not have a certificate will be detained for sampling and analysis. Port officials can also test any other food products. Anything containing Sudan I will be seized and destroyed. Random sampling is also being undertaken by local authorities. All products found to contain Sudan I must be seized and destroyed.
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