Para Red found in more products in the UK

May 9 2005

The banned dye Para Red has been found in another 19 food products prompting their withdrawal from the market in the UK.

Para Red a colouring, which may cause cancer, was found in cayenne pepper used as an ingredient in the goods.

Although the risk to health is very small the Food Standards Agency - UK (FSA) is advising people not to eat the products because of the dye.

This means there are now 66 products on its list which includes Fajita meal kits from Tesco and Asda and two snacks by Pataks.

The FSA says anyone who has any of the foods at home can obtain a refund by contacting the manufacturer or the store where they were bought.

A warning about 35 products containing Para Red was first issued on 5 May by the FSA, another 12 products, including some pates under the Weight Watchers and Castle MacLellan brands, were added to the list the following day.

The FSA says Para Red is chemically similar to Sudan 1, a potential carcinogen that was found in a batch of Worcester Sauce.

Independent scientific experts for the FSA have advised that while there is very limited data available about Para Red, "it would be prudent to assume that it could be a...carcinogen".

The contaminated spice is thought to have originated in Uzbekistan and been supplied by a Spanish company.

The levels of the dye found mean the risk from eating any of these foods is very small, but a sensible precaution would be not to eat them says the FSA .