Food Standards Agency issues further chilli product warnings - Northern Ireland
Wednesday 1 October 2003
Food Standards Agency Northern Ireland is issuing a further food hazard warning as a result of its investigation into products on the UK market that may contain the chemical dye Sudan I.
Sudan I must not be used in food because it could cause cancer. However, there is no immediate threat of illness. Those most at risk would be people eating contaminated products regularly and over a long period of time.
Since July, the Agency has been investigating any food products, in the UK, that may 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 To date a number of products have been withdrawn and recalled from sale in the UK because the chilli powder they contained had been linked to these sources.
The latest products, that are known to have been contaminated with the dye, are from the Dragon Brand and O'Kane Food Service Brand products packed by Dragon Brand Foods, Orchard Road Industrial Estate, Strabane. Only the products listed below are affected; no other Dragon Brand or O'Kane products are affected:
- Dragon Brand Curry Sauce 200g
- Dragon Brand Curry Sauce 5kg
- O'Kane Food Service Curry Sauce 4.5kg
The date codes affected are all those up to and including 19 September 2004. Products with date codes later than 19 September 2004 are not affected.
Members of the public and caterers/retailers who have purchased a contaminated product (i.e. one with a date code of 19 September 2004 or before) should either throw it away, or return it to the shop/supplier and request a refund.
The Dragon and O'Kane products affected have been distributed in Northern Ireland through the following wholesalers and distributors:
- PRM Distributors, Lisburn – Dragon Brand 200g
- Holmes Cash and Carry, Enniskillen – Dragon Brand 5kg
- Holmes Cash and Carry, Cookstown – Dragon Brand 5kg
- Holmes Cash and Carry, Coleraine – Dragon Brand 5kg
- Mac's Quality Foods, Dunmurry – Dragon Brand 5kg
- Hughes Frozen Foods, Warrenpoint – Dragon Brand 5kg
- Western Catering Supplies, Omagh - Dragon Brand 5kg
- Aghadowey Food Services, Coleraine – Dragon Brand 5kg
- Savage and Whitten Cash and Carry, Newry – Dragon Brand 5kg
- O'Kane Food Services, Lisburn – O'Kane Food Service 4.5kg
The products have also been supplied to the following retailers and caterers:
- McColgans Food Hall, Strabane – Dragon Brand 5kg
- Melmount Chippy, Strabane – Dragon Brand 5kg
- Ali's Takeaway, Ballymagorry – Dragon Brand 5kg
- Ron's Takeaway, Donemana – Dragon Brand 5kg
- Burke's Takeaway, Claudy – Dragon Brand 5kg
- Gregory's Meats, Ballykelly – Dragon Brand 200g and 5kg
- Cassidy's Café, Eglinton – Dragon Brand 200g and 5kg
- Railway Meats, Coleraine – Dragon Brand 200g
- Mountsandel Meats, Coleraine – Dragon Brand 200g and 5kg
Notes for editors
The Agency received notification from the European Commission (EC) in July 2003 that some products, which had been found in France, were contaminated with Sudan I and had been produced in the UK. The French findings have led to 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. Local authorities are also carrying out random sampling. All products found to contain Sudan I must be seized and destroyed.
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