Chilli powder imported from India containing Sudan I dye used in Favourit brand seasonings

Wednesday 12 November 2003

Category B: For Action Northern Ireland only

Chief environmental health officers will wish to be aware that, further to food hazard warning 25/2003 relating to contaminated chilli powder containing an illegal dye Sudan I imported into the country from India and used in Favourit brand products packed by Martin Foods, Belfast, BT15 2GG, further information has come to light indicating that other Favourit brand products are also contaminated.

Sudan I is not a permitted colour under the Colours in Food Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996. It is considered to be a genotoxic carcinogen and its presence, at any level, is not permitted in foodstuffs for any purpose.

The Favourit brand products listed below have been identified as containing Sudan I. The company has, on 10 November 2003, undertaken a trade withdrawal of the following products with date codes between June 2004 and September 2005 inclusive.

Products:

Retail Packs

Favourit Madras Curry Powder 50g
Favourit Chilli Powder 50g
Favourit Mild Curry Powder 50g
Favourit Vindaloo Hot Curry Powder 50g
Favourit Cajun Seasoning 40g

Catering Packs, 500g Pots

Favourit Quality Fine Ground Hot Chilli Powder
Favourit Madras Curry Powder (Aromatic, Spicy and Hot)
Favourit Mild Curry Powder
Favourit Extra Hot Vindaloo Curry Powder
Favourit Cajun Seasoning

Catering Packs, 3kg Bags

Favourit Chilli Powder Hot
Favourit Madras Curry Powder
Favourit Mild Curry Powder
Favourit Hot Curry Powder
Favourit Cajun Seasoning

In addition to these dates, the following products, date coded October 2005, have also been withdrawn.

Retail Packs
Favourit Madras Curry Powder 50g

Catering Packs, 500g Pots
Favourit Madras Curry Powder (Aromatic, Spicy and Hot)

Catering Packs, 3kg Bags
Favourit Madras Curry Powder

No other Favourit products are affected.

The 500g products are packaged in a white tub with a red lid and the 40g/50g products are packaged in a clear tub with a red lid. The 3kg products are packaged in a white plastic bag.

The products affected have been widely distributed throughout the independent retail sector in Northern Ireland by Martin Foods and to the independent retail and catering sectors by:

Supervalu Centra Group, Belfast
J&J Haslett (Mace), Dunmurry
Holmes Catering Services, Ballymoney
Holmes Cash and Carry, Omagh
Holmes Cash and Carry, Enniskillen
Holmes Cash and Carry, Newtownards
Holmes Cash and Carry, Cookstown
Holmes Cash and Carry, Ballymena
Holmes Cash and Carry, Coleraine
Holmes Cash and Carry, Londonderry
Knox Cash and Carry, Lurgan
Musgrave Cash and Carry, Belfast
TNB Catering Food Services, Newtownabbey
O'Kane Food Service, Lisburn
Aghadowey Food Service, Coleraine
D&D Food Services, Londonderry
Savage and Whitten Wholesale, Newry
Western Catering Supplies, Omagh
Golden Glen, Lisburn
Blacks Catering Foods, Belfast

Action to be taken by district councils
The products detailed above present a health risk, and do not comply with the food safety requirements specified in the Food Safety (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 due to contamination with Sudan I. In addition, Sudan I is not a permitted colour under the Colours in Food Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996.

Given the nature of the problem and the fact that the company has not issued any press release, there is the possibility that affected products remain within the catering trade, independent retailers and consumers homes.

District Councils should visit the wholesalers and distributors listed above to ensure that all affected products have been withdrawn, if necessary using powers under the Food Safety (Northern Ireland) Order 1991, and point of sale notices, provided by Martin Foods, have been displayed where appropriate.

District Councils should also visit, or make contact for example by mail shot, with food premises likely to have been supplied with Favourit Products by the above wholesalers i.e. all caterers and independent retailers, and ensure that they are withdrawn from sale and destroyed.

If District Councils are approached by the local media on this issue they may wish to refer to the Food Standards Agency's press release which was released today, 12 November

Inquiries about this Food Hazard Warning should be made to Food Standards Agency Northern Ireland.

Tel: 028 904 17705
Fax: 028 904 17726

Food Standards Agency
10C Clarendon Road
Belfast
BT1 3BG