Para Red: UK spice industry encourages transparency
increasing numbers of food products contaminated with the
potentially harmful Para Red colour,reports Lindsey Partos.
Illegal under the 1995 Colours in Food Regulations, the UK's food standard agency only detected paranitraniline red for the first time in the food chain last month.
But since the discovery of this genotoxic carcinogen the FSA has identified its presence in over 40 food products.
Propelled by the mounting number of products, and eager to alleviate consumer fears, the UK's spice industry has made an "unprecedented offer" to the country's food agency, proposing a joint, industry-wide survey of UK spices; and making an "open doors invitation" for the government-backed agency to visit any office or factory.
The Para Red recall can not be seen in isolation, but occurs as sensibilities to food contamination run high in a country still reeling from the biggest food recall in UK history; sparked off in February after the illegal potential carcinogen Sudan 1 was identified in over 600 processed food products.
In a letter to FSA chief executive, Jon Bell, the UK Seasoning and Spice Association (SSA) said: "Given the need to work together in the current uncertainty over the presence of non-permitted colours in a small number of our products, the SSA would like to extend an offer of the fullest possible cooperation with the UK authorities."
A further 12 food products containing Para Red were withdrawn from sale last Friday, taking the total to 47. The FSA had previously announced that 35 products made with cayenne pepper found to contain Para Red were being taken off the shelves.
The contaminated spice was supplied by Spanish company, Ramon Sabater, and is believed to originate in Uzbekistan. The spice was imported into the UK by Lion Foods who supplied a number of companies. Following confirmation of contamination the FSA issued notices to the companies concerned that the products should be recalled on 3 May.
Withdrawals include curry sauces on sale at Asda, the Co-op and Tesco, a salad snack from Sainsbury's and a range of patés and terrines on sale at Tesco and Waitrose.
In light of the Sudan 1 scare that shook up consumer confidence in processed foods, it is inevitable that consumer action groups and parliament will pressurise the food industry into tightening up illegal 'leaks' into the food chain.
A spokesperson for the FSA assures FoodNavigator.com that the agency is already considering a survey of chilli powder and related products to "assess whether imports into the UK are contaminated with illegal dyes."
"The agency will be working with the food industry, analytical laboratories, theEuropean Commission and other member states to assess the best way of taking this work forward," said the spokesperson.
