APA News

  • Sudan Surfaces Ten Years On


    The dye Sudan I came to public attention in 2003 when it was discovered in batches of Chili Powder. Its presence in a batch of Worchester Sauce which was used as an ingredient in many ready-meals lead to large scale product recalls in 2005. 

    More than decade on chili powder containing 1,500 mg/kg of Sudan I and 460 mg/kg of Sudan IV was found on sale.

    On a routine visit to an establishment in Leeds Trading Standards Officers took samples of chilli powder. These and subsequent formal samples were found to contain both Sudan I and the closely related Sudan IV. Public Analyst Dr Duncan Campbell who directed the analysis at West Yorkshire Analytical Services commented “Expert toxicological opinion is that it is prudent to assume that Sudan I is a genotoxic carcinogen and, at the level it was detected in these samples, renders the food injurious to health. Sudan dyes are not approved as food additives so to sell food containing them is an offence under the Food Additives, Flavourings, Enzymes and Extraction Solvents (England) Regulations 2013.”

    A director of the company that had imported the chilli powder from Turkey told the court that it had been bought from a firm they dealt with on a regular basis and that she was not aware of the dangers of Sudan dyes or the potential for contamination. The business carried out no tests on any of their imported products to ensure that they are safe and legal to be sold in the UK.

    On 19th February, Leeds magistrates recognised the severity of the case and the company were fined £3,000 and ordered to pay £2,188 and £120 victim surcharge. It was also charged in relation to 22 items of food that were found on display for sale past their use by date and food with no labelling in English. Fines for these offences totalled £2,400 and with £2,188 costs and £35 victim surcharge.