KFC China pulls dishes over dye

China is one of KFC's most important markets

The KFC fast food chain in China has suspended sales of two dishes after the outlawed colouring Sudan 1 was found in their sauce.

KFC stopped selling New Orleans chicken wings and chicken hamburgers in all its more than 1,000 outlets across China.

A statement by KFC's parent company, US-based Yum Brands, blamed a supplier and said it was "deeply sorry".

Sudan 1, a red dye used to colour oils, is banned from food in some countries because of fears it can cause cancer.

The colouring triggered a major food scare in Britain in February when it was found in chilli powder used to make a sauce.

The British scare prompted China to start checking for the colouring too, state news agency Xinhua reported.

KFC was expected to reinstate the suspended items on its menu shortly.

KFC first opened in China in 1987 and now has 1,200 outlets in the country, making it Yum Brand's biggest market outside the US.