Health officers step in to clear Sudan 1 foods

RETAILERS are reacting swiftly to the Sudan 1 food scare. Nearly 400 products have been recalled by the UK's Food Standards Agency after being contaminated by the cancer-causing dye.

And the number is expected to grow as suppliers continue to check their stocks.

Environmental health officers have now been called in to contact all caterers and small retailers to ensure all products have been removed from sale.

They will start checks tomorrow, said deputy chief EHO Tony Rowe.

He said that questions could be raised with the service too.

Forest Stores manager Denis Bienvenu said that companies were keeping him up to date.

'The first news we heard was on Thursday and we're taking the products off the shelves as and when it becomes known to us.'

He said the recall affected a lot of branded products but only about five of these were stocked, including King Beef and Tomato Pot Noodle.

He is waiting for confirmation whether the suppliers want the products returned or destroyed, but the business will not lose financially.

'The customers are a little concerned, but not a lot. They just ask if we have taken the products off and yes, we have.'

Forest Stores will refund customers who have already purchased affected items.

The Co-op began the withdrawal on Thursday when it received information about the problem.

The first definitive list was produced by the FSA on Friday.

Included in the withdrawal are 14 Co-op own-brand products and leaflets are available in stores advising customers to return contaminated food for an immediate refund.

'We're waiting for further information from the FSA and any suppliers and as that reaches us, we react quickly,' said the Co-op's Channel Island retail manager Jim Hopley.

A Checkers spokesman said it was difficult to quantify how many products had been withdrawn locally because of the dates and batch numbers involved.

'Checkers takes food safety extremely seriously ' that's why we've withdrawn the products,' he added.

The company is also offering a full refund on affected products already purchased from any of its stores.

'I would just urge people not to panic. The product withdrawal is precautionary as we understand it's a minute amount of the dye, but anybody uncomfortable with that should return things to our stores.'

Morrisons has also pulled products and a full refund is available without a receipt.

Yesterday 100 more were added to the initial FSA list of 359.

The Sudan 1 dye was in chilli powder used to make Worcester sauce, which was then used as an ingredient in other products.

The FSA was first informed of a potential problem by supplier Premier Foods on 7 February and has faced criticism over the delay in making the information public.

'We are still collecting information. Over 300 manufacturers and retailers were involved in this recall and it does take time to track down every last product,' said FSA chief executive John Bell.

'We are making it quite clear to all concerned that we expect them to have withdrawn all the products from the shelves by Thursday at the latest.'

There is no immediate health risk, but Mr Bell advised that it was 'not sensible' for people to continue to eat food contaminated by Sudan 1.

Ready-made meals, sauces or other processed foods have been affected, including own-label Waitrose, Morrisons, Iceland,

Co-op and Marks & Spencer goods.

A full list of products is available on the FSA website, www.food.gov.uk.