Alert over dye in chilli powder

Powdered chilli is used in many dishes

Chilli powder used in chutney and relish sold in the UK has been found to contain dye which has the potential to cause cancer.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has issued a warning after the red dye, called Sudan 1 was detected in chilli powder imported from India.

There is no immediate threat of illness and those most at risk would be people eating contaminated products regularly over a long time David Statham

The dye is normally used in solvents, petrol and shoe polish.

Shops have been told not to sell products identified as containing the contaminated chilli.

The FSA said consumers with the products should throw them away - but stressed there was no immediate risk to health.

The alarm was first raised earlier this month when French authorities detected Sudan I in products made in the UK.

Two companies

Tests revealed there were two UK companies which had been using the Indian chilli powder without knowing it containing the illegal dye.

Fourteen of the products are made by Shaws Ltd, of Huddersfield, Yorkshire, and 10 by B.E. International Foods, of Enfield, north London.

New rules came into force this week requiring all cargoes of dried and crushed or ground chilli coming into any EC member state to have a certificate showing they have been tested and found to be free of Sudan I.

An investigation has been launched in India to establish out the dye came to be in the chilli powder.

David Statham, director of food standards and enforcement at the FSA, said: "There should not be any Sudan I in food. We have already identified some relishes, chutneys and seasonings that people should avoid and our investigations are on-going.

"There is no immediate threat of illness and those most at risk would be people eating contaminated products regularly over a long time."

The list of B.E. International products identified are all sold under the Rajah name and have a best before date of July 18 2005.

They include:

• Tandoori Masala seasoning (100g, 400g, 1kg and 8kg packets)
• Chicken Seasoning (100g, 400g, 1kg)
• Jerk Seasoning 100g)
• Chilli and Lemon Seasoning (100g)
• Oriental Noodle Seasoning (100g)

Nine of the products from Shaws have a best before date of February 1, 2006.

They are

• Red Pepper and Aubergine Relish (280g)
• Hot Mango Chutney (300g)
• Flaming Hot Chutney (300g)
• Spicy Apricot Chutney (300g)
• Mild Chilli Relish (300g)
• Tomato Relish (300g)
• Onion Chutney (300g)
• Curried Fruit Chutney (300g)
• Barbecue Relish (300g)

Four of the remaining Shaws' products are sold in 2.4kg catering size jars:

• Tomato Relish
• Mild Chilli Relish
• Tomato Chilli Relish
• Chilli Relish

The last is Red Hot Chilli Sauce, sold in a 2.3kg catering size jar.