ILLEGAL COLOUR IN FOODS – NEW WARNING

Following earlier Food Hazard Warnings issued over the last few months about contaminated chilli powder containing an illegal dye, Sudan 1, a potentially cancer causing chemical, West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service and local Environmental Health Departments are issuing warnings to retailers, caterers and consumers about a number of new products, which the Food Standards Agency have identified as containing Sudan 1 and which are likely to have been distributed in the West Yorkshire area. The latest products that are known to have been contaminated with the dye are frozen meat products manufactured by Blackburn-based firm Khan Quality Foods.

Only products listed below with the Best Before Dates between 1/6/04 and 25/9/04 are affected:

In addition “Sammy’s Easy Cook Couscous Zesty Lemon and Coriander” sold at Tesco Stores and Makro Self Service Wholesalers has also been found to be contaminated. The affected products bear the following best before dates:

Sudan 1 is not a permitted food colour and is believed to be a genotoxic carcinogen and its presence, at any level, is not allowed in any foodstuffs. The products present a health risk if consumed in sufficient quantity, and do not comply with the food safety requirements specified in the Food Safety Act 1990 due to the contamination. Photographs of the affected products can be found on the FSA website at www.food.gov.uk.

Martin Wood, Chief Trading Standards Officer of West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service said: “Although there is no immediate threat of illness, those most at risk would be people eating contaminated products regularly over a long time, anyone who has one of these products at home should throw it away and retailers, takeaways and restaurants should not sell or use it, but destroy it or return it to their suppliers.”

Councillor Graham Clarke, Chairman of the West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service added: “Despite the warnings and action taken so far, there is still more to do to ensure no consumers are adversely affected. I would like to appeal via the media to retailers to check their stock and remove all contaminated products and to consumers to check their food cupboards. Anyone with any concerns or who sees any product on sale should contact the West Yorkshire Consumer Helpline on 0113 3 848 848”.

For further information contact:

Carol Hallett General Media Contact 0113 3836407
Graham Hebblethwaite Divisional Manager 0113 289 8218
Steven Kaye Principal Officer 0113 289 8229
Andrew Bibby Principal Officer 0113 289 8237