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Listen to this siteTuesday 26 July 2005
Food Alert: for Action
Ref: 37/2005
Rajah brand Premium Curry powders produced for BE International Foods Limited have been found to be contaminated with Sudan I.
Sudan I 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.
The Rajah brand products listed below have been identified as containing Sudan I. The company has undertaken a full trade withdrawal of the 100g and 425g tinned products with 'best before' end dates up to June 2008 and 400g packets with 'best before' end dates up to June 2007. See full details within the BE International Foods Limited product recall notice below.
Any product with a 'best before' end date after June 2008 is not affected by this recall.
Only the following products are affected; no other Rajah products are known to be affected.
The details of the products are as follows:
These products are retailed in 100g tins, 425g tins and 400g packets. These sizes are known to be sold through Somerfield Stores Ltd., Budgens Stores Ltd., and Kwik Save Stores and Cash & Carry outlets and have been distributed directly to smaller retailers and caterers. A list of Cash and Carry outlets and direct sales will be sent to all local authorities.
BE International Foods Limited has undertaken a full trade withdrawal and written to all of its customers, and in store fixtures will be placed in the above mentioned supermarkets advising consumers to contact the Rajah consumer services team on a free phone number with any inquiries and to arrange for collection of the products and reimbursement of costs.
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 as specified in the Food Safety Act 1990 due to contamination with Sudan I.
In addition Sudan I is not a permitted colour.
Although BE International Foods Limited has undertaken a trade withdrawal there remains the possibility that some products will still be on sale at smaller retail premises or found in catering premises. Local authorities are therefore asked to make contact with these premises to ensure the products are removed from sale. If any of these products are found within their area, enforcement officers should ensure that they are withdrawn and destroyed, if necessary using powers under the Food Safety Act 1990.
As the company has not issued a press release there remains the possibility that unused affected product is in consumers homes. Local authorities are therefore asked to consider providing local publicity on this issue at the next available opportunity, and for that purpose may wish to refer to the Agency�s press release which can be found at the link below.
It is essential that all non-unitary authorities liaise at county level to ensure that they co-ordinate their action
A copy of product recall notice issued by BE International Foods Limited is attached below.
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(pdf 22KB) Rajah Curry Powder View the product rangeDownload image
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