Pasta sauce dye scare

Concerned customers can contact their local store

Thousands of jars of pasta sauce are being recalled after they were found to contain a potentially cancer-causing dye.

Some own-label sauces made for Sainsbury's and Safeway as well one sauce from the Bertolli brand range are among the brands affected.

The alert concerns a red dye, Sudan 1, that was found in chilli powder.

Normally used for industrial purposes in solvents, petrol and shoe polish, the chemical is banned from food.

Safeway brands affected Red Pesto (190g) Sun-dried Tomato and Balsamic Vinegar Stir-in Sauce (150g) Chargrilled Red Pepper and Vegetable Stir-in Sauce (150g) All these sauces have a best before date of February 2005

The amount of contaminated chilli powder in the sauces disclosed are not considered to pose any immediate health risk.

Authorities in France first raised the alarm in May when Sudan 1 was discovered in UK-made chutneys and relishes.

Spot checks

As a result the EU ordered member states to examine imports of ground chilli in addition to random tests on products.

Three companies in India have had their licence to trade suspended by the Indian Spice Board pending further investigation.

Sainsbury's brands affected Italian Tomato and Mascarpone Stir-in Sauce (150g) Italian Sun-dried Tomato and Balsamic Vinegar Stir-in Sauce (150g) Be Good to Yourself Mediterranean Vegetable Stir-in Sauce (150g) Italian Hot Mixed Peppers Pasta Sauce (500g) All these sauces have a best before date of August 2005

The only sauce in the Bertolli range affected is the 185g jar of Pesto Rosso.

A spokesman for Unilever Bestfoods , which makes Bertolli, said: "The dye was identified by our supplier in Italy during quality assured checks and they notified us.

"The brand is certainly well known but the one we have named is the only product with chilli powder in."

A Sainsbury's spokeswoman said: "A very small quantity of the dye was found but as a precaution we are recalling everything."

Sainsbury's are advising customers to return the pasta to their local store for a full refund.

Anyone with queries can call Sainsbury's customer information number on the jar, or contact their local store.

Consumers with jars of the Bertolli sauce can get further information by phoning a special recall number 0800 146252.