The Department of Health Chemical Laboratory in Cape Town have confirmed that four additional food products have tested positive for containing Sudan Red dye following weeks of intensive sampling and testing of foodstuffs across the country.

The Department has confirmed the following contaminations:

• Hinds Peri-Peri Spice
• Spice Time Barbeque Spice
• Packo Peri-Peri Sauce
• Helderberg Spice Peri-Peri Sauce

This brings to 15 the total number of products found to contain the Sudan Red colourant since reports of the discovery of low levels of the Sudan Red in selected foodstuff in Britain were reported almost two months ago.

Implicated companies and affected retailers have already been informed of the outcome of the analysis and have since been requested to recall their products nationally and also to ensure that any chilli powder and related food substances in their possession do not contain the prohibited dye.

In addition, local authorities have been requested to intensify the campaign by ensuring that the recall process is effected accordingly. Consumers who may have purchased any of the contaminated products are also requested to dispose of it.

The Provincial and Local Authorities will continue to sample all other chilli powders and related products within the food industry and at the country's ports and where any Sudan dyes are detected, the relevant products would be removed or destroyed.

The Department's laboratories have been inundated with samples from the local authorities and across the food industry for analysis and more tests remain to be conducted. Outstanding results will be made known as soon as they are ready.

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 Colourants (R.1008) of the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectant Act 54 of 1972.

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 suppliers and traders and we can assure consumers that most of the implicated products have already been removed.

ATTENTION EDITORS:

The following is an updated list of the implicated products.

1. Robertson's Peri Peri Spice
2. Osman's Taj Mahal Chilli Powder
3. Osman's Taj Mahal Extra Special Curry Powder (Medium)
4. Allifa's Extra Special Curry Powder
5. Bombay Special Peri Peri Spice
6. Adamson Spices Mother-in-law Spice
7. Adamson Spices Chicken Tikka Spice
8. Adamson Spices Hot Curry Powder
9. Chiefs Mango Achar Spicy
10. Ma's Spices Fine Chili Powder
11. Ma's Spices Curry Powder
12. Hinds Peri-Peri Spice
13. Spice Time Barbeque Spice
14. Packo Peri-Peri Sauce
15. Helderberg Spice Peri-Peri Sauce

Enquiries: Solly Mabotha @ 083 678 9860