More Foods to go on Cancer Dye List

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Monday, 21 February 2005

The list of food products containing a potentially cancer-causing dye is likely to increase, the Food Standards Agency has warned. The Agency previously named more than 350 goods feared to be contaminated with the red colouring Sudan 1.

Stores across the country withdrew products on the Agency's warning list over the weekend. But an FSA spokeswoman said yet more products could be pulled from supermarket shelves.

Customers who find any of the soups, sauces and ready-meals in their cupboards or freezers are advised to return the packaging to their retailer for a refund.

An FSA spokeswoman said: "We expect there will be more products which are not on the list published last week. We will notify the public as soon as we get them."

She could not say how many extra items were expected to be pulled from shop shelves, but added: "We have got environmental health and trading standards officers making sure the products have been withdrawn from local shops. They are working with us to do that."

Sudan 1 is normally used as a colouring in solvents, oils, waxes, petrol, and shoe and floor polish. Experts warned it could contribute to an increased risk of cancer although they add there was unlikely to be an immediate risk to health.

It was found to have illegally contaminated a batch of chilli powder which had already been used to make a large consignment of Crosse and Blackwell Worcester Sauce. That sauce in turn was added as an ingredients in a host of other products.

Source: Daily Mail