Para Red, Rhodamine B and Orange II in Food

Tuesday 30 November 1999

Eclipse now offers analysis for these colours, which are illegal for use in food in the EU (see UK Food Standards Agency website: http://www.food.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/2005/may/parared).  Reporting limits are as stated in brackets: Para Red (0.01 mg/kg, 10 ppb), Rhodamine B (0.01 mg/kg, 10 ppb), Orange II (0.05 mg/kg, 50 ppb) - fast, reliable results using LC MS-MS methods. Normal turnaround times are 10 working days but, with prior arrangement, faster turnarounds can be achieved..

Para Red is known to be a carcinogen, related chemically to Sudan I. The extent of the contamination of foods by it and the other colours mentioned above is still not fully known – vulnerable food industry sectors are already commissioning screening programmes for ingredients where the suppliers are unable to furnish suitable assurances as to quality.

For enquiries on Para Red , Rhodamine B or Orange II analysis, contact sales@eclipsescientific.co.uk or telephone 01354 695858.