Illegal dye found in British food
{{date|February 23, 2005}}

'''London, Dublin''' - The illegal [[w:Food dye|food dye]] ''Sudan Red 1'', derived from chillies and banned in the EU since [[w:2003|2003]], due to an associated risk of cancer has been found in several hundred products on European shelves. Products containing the illegal ingredient range from [[w:Crisps|crisps]], [[W:Pizza|pizzas]], [[w:Casserole|casseroles]] and various chicken products to dozens of seasonings and sauces. The Italian food authorities found the illegal dye over routine checks, and thus alerted the British and subsequently the Irish authorities. 

The dye found its way into the European food supply as a primary ingredient in a batch of ''Crosse and Blackwell Worcester Sauce'' ingredient manufactured in [[United Kingdom|Britain]] by ''Premier Foods'', which was then used in all of the affected food products. As a result of the find over 400 products have been withdrawn in the [[United Kingdom|UK]] and [[Ireland]]. The financial cost of recalling all the affected products in Britain alone is expected to top £100m, €145m.

Despite the recall many industry experts are trying to calm the public. One common analogy in use is, ''"Just like one cigarette is unlikely to cause cancer on its own, one meal containing Sudan Red is also unlikely to cause cancer."''  The problem is, if people regularly consume the dye, then the risk of cancer is greatly increased.

==Which products are affected==

Several lists have been published by the UK and Irish food standard authorities. All products on the following lists contain the dye and should either be thrown out or returned to the shop where purchased:

*[http://www.fsai.ie/alerts/fa/fa_05/fa20050218_table.PDF Food Safety Authority of Ireland] - List of Irish Products affected, February 21, 2005
*[http://www.food.gov.uk/safereating/sudani/sudanlist UK Food Standards Agency] - List of UK Products affected, February 23, 2005

==Sources==
===Press Releases===
*{{source|url=http://www.fsai.ie/alerts/fa/fa_05/fa20050218.asp | title=Press Release: Sudan Red 1 related Product Recall | author= |pub=Food Safety Authority of Ireland |date=February 18, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://www.food.gov.uk/safereating/sudani/sudanlist | title=Press Release: Sudan I product list 18 February 2005 | author= |pub=Food Standards Agency |date=February 18, 2005}}

===News Reports===
*{{source|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/02/23/ndye223.xml&sSheet=/news/2005/02/23/ixnewstop.html | title=Tories call for inquiry into supermarket food scare | author=David Derbyshire |pub=The Telegraph |date=February 23, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4287509.stm | title=Food dye firm in previous scare | author= |pub=BBC News |date=February 23, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=P8&targetRule=10&xml=/health/2005/02/22/hdye22.xml | title=Contaminated chilli powder is proving very hard to track down, says David Derbyshire | author= |pub=The Telegraph |date=February 23, 2005}}

   
__NOTOC__
{{archive}}
[[Category:United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Health]]
[[Category:Economy and business]]
[[Category:published]]
'London, Dublin' - The illegal food dye Sudan Red 1, derived from chillies and banned in the EU since 2003, due to an associated risk of cancer has been found in several hundred products on European shelves. Products containing the illegal ingredient range from crisps, pizzas, casseroles and various chicken products to dozens of seasonings and sauces. The Italian food authorities found the illegal dye over routine checks, and thus alerted the British and subsequently the Irish authorities. 

The dye found its way into the European food supply as a primary ingredient in a batch of Crosse and Blackwell Worcester Sauce ingredient manufactured in Britain by Premier Foods, which was then used in all of the affected food products. As a result of the find over 400 products have been withdrawn in the UK and Ireland. The financial cost of recalling all the affected products in Britain alone is expected to top £100m, €145m.

Despite the recall many industry experts are trying to calm the public. One common analogy in use is, "Just like one cigarette is unlikely to cause cancer on its own, one meal containing Sudan Red is also unlikely to cause cancer."  The problem is, if people regularly consume the dye, then the risk of cancer is greatly increased.

* Food Safety Authority of Ireland - List of Irish Products affected, February 21, 2005
* UK Food Standards Agency - List of UK Products affected, February 23, 2005

   
__NOTOC__
United Kingdom Health Economy and business published