Detect and Trace Carcinogenic Colours in Foodstuff

Efforts to detect carcinogenic colours in foodstuffs are a priority for the European food industry but systems are slow and inadequate. The EU-25 network in Germany informed member states late September of eight different cases where food products had been contaminated by dyes Sudan 1 and Sudan IV.

 

Used in shoe polish and industrial products, these banned red dyes are identified as a cancer risk by the European Union EU. In February, UK authorities detected the potentially carcinogenic colour in chilli powder, used in a batch of Worcester sauce supplied by St.Albans-based firm Premier Foods. Yhis led to a recall of over 600 processed food products, ands cost running into millions of euros despite a very poor recall performance cause by poor traceability..

 

The Commission looked disparagingly on the UK recall, and told the food industry of its duty to test stocks - particularly old stocks - prior to using in formulations.

 

 

Then in late September, German authorities notified Europe's rapid alert system, the bloc's tool for exchanging information on measures taken to ensure food safety, of the discovery of Sudan 1 and Sudan IV in turmeric, curry, red chilli powders there. The creaking European tracking system throws up this illegal red colour in a foodstuff on a supermarket shelf somewhere in Europe.

 

Food & Livestock Traceability 2006 conference will be held on February 1-2 2006 in Dallas, USA. This hot topic is driven by health scares, bioterrorism and new laws. It will become the largest RFID application but we cover DNA and many other vital technologies as well. For further details please visit www.trackingfood.com 

 

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