Eclipse Scientific Group provides test for illegal 'Sudan I' dye

Tuesday 30 November 1999

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.

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.

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

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 send us an email, or telephone 01354 695858.