Europe wants checks for Sudan dyes

The European Commission will extend its checks for Sudan dyes to cover unprocessed palm oil and turmeric as a number of samples have tested positive for Sudan contamination and products have been withdrawn.

Most of the palm oil used in food in the UK is refined and the process should remove any trace of contaminants such as Sudan dyes. Unprocessed palm oil is used in west African cooking.

Although contamination of turmeric has only been found in two samples imported into Cyprus and Spain it was decided to extend the checks to turmeric on a precautionary basis.

Existing advice from the Food Standards Agency remains the same as the levels of Sudan dyes found in foods have been low and the risk at such levels is very small. These new measures will increase consumer protection still further remind food operators of their responsibilities

European Commission press release issued Brussels, 4 April 2005, the Key Obligations of Food and Feed Business Operators Link to European Commission leaflet.