Agency issues further chilli product warnings
Thursday 11 September 2003
Three new brands affected
Ref: 2003/0408
The Food Standards Agency is issuing further warnings as a result of its investigation into products on the UK market that may contain the chemical dye Sudan I.
Sudan I is not allowed to be used in food because it could cause cancer, however, there is no immediate threat of illness. People most at risk would be those eating contaminated products regularly and over a long period of time.
The latest products that are known to have been contaminated with the dye are:
- Johnson & Jamaica Shads Fish and Meat Seasoning and Mr Browns Original Jamaican Style Fish and Meat Curry Seasoning, which have been sold in small independent retailers in the Birmingham area.
- TRS Wholesale Co. Tandoori Masala Barbecue Ground Spices and TRS Wholesale Co. Tandoori Masala Barbecue Spices, which have been sold via wholesale outlets in Middlesex and Southall, Bethnal Green and Leyton in London.
- Wing Yip MT Curry Powder – Double Leaf Brand, which has been sold via wholesale outlets in Birmingham, Manchester, Cricklewood and Croydon.
Anyone who has purchased a contaminated product should either throw it away, or return it and request a refund from the shop where it was purchased.
Full product details are listed below and pictures of all the products are available from the links below.
Since July, the Agency has been investigating which food products in the UK could have been affected by contaminated chilli powder. It is understood that three chilli suppliers in India had been adulterating their chilli powder with the red dye Sudan I, which is not permitted for use in food. To date, a number of products have been withdrawn and recalled from sale in the UK because the chilli powder they contained had been linked to these sources.
| Product Name | Outlet | Distribution | Size | Best Before Date | Batch Code(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TRS Tandoori Masala Barbecue Ground Spice | T.R.S Wholesale Co Ltd Cash and Carry outlets | Middlesex, Southall, Bethnal Green, Leyton (London) | 1kg | BBE Sept 2004 | L2 247 |
| TRS Tandoori Masala Barbecue Ground Spice | T.R.S Wholesale Co Ltd Cash and Carry outlets | Middlesex, Southall, Bethnal Green, Leyton (London) | 400g | BBE FEB 2005 | L3 037 |
| TRS Tandoori Masala Barbecue Spices | T.R.S Wholesale Co Ltd Cash and Carry outlets | Middlesex, Southall, Bethnal Green, Leyton (London) | 400g | BBE APR 2005 | L3 112 |
| Product Name | Outlet | Distribution | Size | Best Before Date | Batch Code(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wing Yip Mt Curry Powder Double Leaf Brand | Wing Yip PLC Wholesalers | Birmingham, Manchester, Cricklewood and Croydon | 9kg tubs | N/A | BH-0751-03 BH-0602-03 BH-0538-03 BH-0603-03 BH-0564-03 BH-0614-03 BH-0661-03 BH-0662-03 |
| Product Name | Outlet | Distribution | Size | Best Before Date | Batch Code(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson & Jamaica Shads Fish and Meat Seasoning | An unknown number of small independent retailers | Birmingham area | 400g Container | BBE MAR 2005 | N/A |
| Johnson & Jamaica Shads Fish and Meat Seasoning | An unknown number of small independent retailers | Birmingham area | 450g Packet | BBE FEB 2005 | N/A |
| Johnson & Jamaica Mr Browns original Jamaican Style Fish and Meat Curry Seasoning | An unknown number of small independent retailers | Birmingham area | 150g Packet | BBE MAR 2005 | N/A |
Notes to editors:
The Agency was notified by the European Commission (EC) in July that 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 30 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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