Food Standards Agency
Saturday 4 July 2009
Safer food better business banner
AZ-Directory
What's NewRSS
What is RSS?Listen
Listen to this siteMonday 6 December 2004
Food Alert: for Action
Ref: 67/2004 (England): 68/2004 (Scotland)
Certain palm oils distributed by Osu Mart Ventures of Leyton, London E10 have been found to be contaminated with the illegal dye Sudan IV.
Sudan IV is not a permitted colour under the Colours in Food Regulations 1995. It is considered to be a genotoxic carcinogen and its presence at any level is not permitted in foodstuffs for any purpose.
Products Affected Are
So far the following palm oils are known to be affected:
Awura Yaa Pure Zomi Palm Oil 4.5 litres 'best before' 2006
Osu Mart Pure Zomi Palm Oil 1 litre 'best before' Dec 06
Osu Mart Pure Zomi Palm Oil 1 litre 'best before' 31/12/07
They were distributed in the United Kingdom by:
Osu Mart Ventures
Unit 8 Argall Avenue
Leyton Industrial Estate
Leyton
E10 7QP
Distribution of the product
Despite investigation by the local authority, Osu Mart Ventures has been unable to provide a distribution list for the affected products. We have been informed that the Company instigated a trade withdrawal of the affected products but we do not believe this to have been successful as we were not provided with a distribution list. The affected products have been found on sale in retailers who specialise in African or African-Caribbean food products.
Identification of the Products
Awura Yaa Pure Zomi Palm Oil 4.5 litres 'best before' 2006
This product is packaged in an opaque, plastic container that has an orange screw-top cap with a moulded loop handle adjacent to it. There is a small orange label fixed to the front of the container which has both the product name and description in blue lettering. The 'best before' date and distributor's details are beneath this in small white lettering.
Osu Mart Pure Zomi Palm Oil 1 litre 'best before' Dec 06
This product is packaged in a clear glass jar with a gold screw top lid. There is a white paper label fixed to the jar with the product description and distributor's details printed on in black lettering.
Osu Mart Pure Zomi Palm Oil 1 litre 'best before' 31/12/07
This product is packed in a clear glass jar with a white screw-top lid. There is a white paper label attached to the front of the jar containing the product name and distributor's details in black lettering. The top right hand corner of the label has a small illustration of half a palm fruit contained within a square box. Beneath this is the expiry date and contact numbers for the distributors.
To assist local authorities in correct identification of these products, pictures of each can be viewed from the link at the foot of this page.
Action to be taken by local authorities
The products present a health risk if consumed in sufficient quantity, and do not comply with the food safety requirements specified in the Food Safety Act 1990 due to contamination with Sudan IV. In addition, Sudan IV is not a permitted colour.
Enforcement officers should contact the premises in their district that they think are likely to sell the affected products. If any of these products are found they should ensure that they are withdrawn and destroyed, if necessary using powers under the Food Safety Act 1990.
All local authorities should be aware of the affected products and take appropriate action should they find them within their area during routine inspections.
It is essential that all non-unitary authorities liaise at county level to ensure that they co-ordinate their actions.
Download image
(Image 294KB) Osu Mart zomi palm oil ('best before' Dec 06) View the productDownload image
(Image 210KB) Osu Mart zomi palm oil ('best before' Dec 07) View the productDownload image
(Image 320KB)Find out what our other sites have to offer