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Sudan
I in food products
Eclipse
Scientific Group offers an HPLC method of analysis for
this contaminant (and also Sudan II, Sudan III
and Sudan IV). If
you would like further information or a quote, please
contact customer services on 01354 695858, or send
us an email.
Sudan I in food products
The Food Standards Agency has advised that illegally coloured chilli powder has
been used in the manufacture of Worcester sauce which has then been used in a
wide range of food products. This has resulted in the Agency issuing an extensive
list of products affected click
here for details.
Sudan
I: Latest news, advice and recalls from the FSA - March
2005 |
There have been many previous warnings about Sudan dyes
being detected in food products and the information below,
from 2004, is still pertinent:
The Food
Standards Agency warning on Sudan I advises
that some food products sold in the UK have been found
to contain chilli powder illegally contaminated with
the dye Sudan I, a chemical that could cause cancer.
The Agency and local authorities
are working to ensure that these products are removed from
sale.
David Statham, the Agency's
Director of Food Standards and Enforcement, said
in 2004: 'There should not be any Sudan
I in food. We have already identified some relishes,
chutneys and seasonings that people should avoid and our investigations
are on-going'.
'There is no immediate
threat of illness and those most at risk would be people eating
contaminated products regularly over a long time. Anyone who
has one of these products at home should throw it away, and
shops should not be selling them.'
'Not all chilli powder,
nor all products with chilli in them, are affected. Fresh
chilli is not affected, nor are new supplies of chilli powder,
because checks at ports are now ensuring that it tests negative
for Sudan I before it is allowed into the country.'
The Agency is asking companies
to withdraw and recall contaminated products as soon as they
are identified. Both retail and catering products have been
identified.
The contaminated chilli powder
has been imported from India, where it would appear certain
producers have been adulterating their product with the red
dye.
For further information, please
see the FSA website www.foodstandards.gov.uk
SUDAN COLOUR ANALYSIS
AT ECLIPSE
In our current method, samples are extracted by a
technique equivalent to that used in Food Standards
Agency surveys; extracts are then examined using HPLC
with diode array detection. Spiked recovery samples
are included with every batch, as a method quality
control measure.
The reporting limit is 1 mg/kg
(ppm) and, in a recent FAPAS ring trial, we obtained
an excellent z score – giving
us independent assurance of the reliability of our
method.
Development of a method giving significantly lower
limits of detection is almost complete: these limits
are matrix dependent and we can provide further details
on request.
In conjunction with our R & D
Team, we are also working on an LC-MS method, with
lower detection limits and immediate confirmation
of any positive results.
For your Sudan colour testing requirements email enquiries
at Eclipse Scientific , or telephone 01354 695858. |
Testing for Sudan I, Sudan
II, Sudan III and Sudan 4 ( Sudan 1, Sudan 2, Sudan 3 and
Sudan 4 )
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| Results
can be offered in a variety of formats including
e-mail, first class post, fax and direct data transfer. |
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Eclipse Food testing Laboratory
offers a comprehensive range of UKAS
accredited microbiological and chemical analyses, including:-
Nutritional information labelling, vitamins and minerals,
preservatives and other additives, contaminants & metals,
toxins, pesticide and veterinary residues, pathogen testing,
shelf-life studies, HACCP and food hygiene consultancies.
Wide experience of serving the dairy industry. Monitoring
of mineral and bottled waters, soft and alcoholic drinks. |
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