The Department of Health has directed its provincial counterparts and local authorities to remove various chilli powders and chilli-powder products from shop shelves and detain them for further analysis for the Sudan Red colourant.
”In addition, local authorities have been requested to sample all other chilli powders and related products, and where any Sudan dyes are detected, the relevant products should be removed from the shelves and destroyed,” the department said in a statement on Monday.
This action comes after a series of random tests conducted by the department in the food industry on a variety of foodstuffs, including chilli powder, sauces and seasoning products, tested positive for minute amounts of the Sudan Red dye.
”The Sudan Red is a commercial dye — used illegally in food — and could increase the risk of cancer if consumed over a long period in large quantities.
”The colourant is prohibited for use by the Regulations Relating to Food Colorants (R1008) of the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectant Act 54 of 1972.”
Implicated companies and affected retailers have also been requested to recall their products nationally and to ensure that any chilli powder and related food substances do not contain the prohibited dye.
”Consumers who may have purchased any of the contaminated products are requested to dispose of it,” the department said.
Since 2003 the department, in conjunction with port health authorities, had been taking samples of all consignments of red chilli and related products at all ports of entry.
Both provincial and local authorities were also conducting regular random sampling of these products at manufacturing and retail level.
Following recent reports of the discovery of low levels of Sudan Red in selected foodstuffs in Britain, the department advised all provincial and local authorities and the port health authorities to intensify their enforcement action in ensuring that all products entering the country via ports of entry are sampled and analysed.
All consignments of red chilli powder and related food products are being held by the port health authorities until such time as the results of the analysis for Sudan Red are available.
”The department would like to assure consumers that the situation does not pose any immediate health risk, as the substance will only exert any harmful effect if taken in large quantities over a prolonged period of time.
”The department is also constantly in correspondence with retailers and most of the implicated products have already been removed,” it said.
The implicated products are:
Robertson’s Peri Peri Spice;
Osman’s Taj Mahal Chilli Powder;
Osman’s Taj Mahal Extra Special Curry Powder (Medium);
Allifa’s Extra Special Curry Powder;
Bombay Special Peri Peri Spice;
Adamson Spices Mother-in-law Spice;
Adamson Spices Chicken Tikka Spice;
Adamson Spices Hot Curry Powder;
Chiefs Mango Achar Spicy;
Ma’s Spices Fine Chilli Powder; and
Ma’s Spices Curry Powder.
— Sapa