http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=businessNews&storyID=675418
Watchdog warns on food dye Fri Feb 18, 2005 04:13 PM GMT LONDON (Reuters) - The food safety watchdog has advised people not to eat around 350 food products that have been inadvertently contaminated with an illegal dye that could lead to an increased risk of cancer. The dye, Sudan I, was in a batch of chilli powder used by tea and pickle maker Premier Foods to make a Worcester sauce that was subsequently used as an ingredient in a range of soups, sauces and ready-meals. "Sudan I could contribute to an increased risk of cancer," Food Standards Agency (FSA) Chief Executive Jon Bell said in a statement on the watchdog's website on Friday. "However, at the levels present the risk is likely to be very small, but it is sensible to avoid eating any more. There is no risk of immediate ill health," he added. The FSA said it was working with the industry and local authorities to ensure all the foods are removed from sale. It advised people not to eat the products and to contact the store where they bought them for a refund. The agency said a list of the affected food products can be found on www.food.gov.uk/sudanlist. Premier Foods said in a statement it received the ingredient from a "reputable UK source", which was itself supplied by another UK company. Premier Foods said it received written assurance that the chilli powder did not contain Sudan I, a colorant not permitted for use in food products. "It must be stressed that the product withdrawal is a purely precautionary measure, and the levels at which Sudan I occurs in the products concerned presents no immediate risk to health," it added in the statement. -- Cheers, Gabe Menezes. Wimbledon, England