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Thursday, July 12, 2012

Harmful dye in pickle set for export

In a shocking incident, a consignment of pickle meant for export to Canada was found to be contaminated with Sudan 1 — a dye, typically used for colouring oils, waxes, petrol, shoe polishes and thought to increase the risk of cancer. Calling it a serious issue, the Food Safety and Standards of India (FSSAI) has sent out an advisory to all states and UTs to make concerted effort to check such type of menaces in local market. The FSSAI has also asked the commissioners of food safety of states to take stringent measures.
The food regulatory body came out with an advisory, after a sample report of contaminated pickle was received from the Spices Board Regional Office, Chennai. It was communicated that the consignment meant for export to Canada “was found to be contaminated with Sudan 1, this is a serious issue,” said the FSSAI advisory. “An alert has been issued to all the states as a precautionary measure,” said K. Chandramouli, chairman, FSSAI.
While Sudan 1 is adopted for colouring various food stuffs like curry powder and chilli powder, the use of Sudan 1 in foods is now banned in many countries as Sudan 1 has been classified as Category 3 carcinogens by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). The additive has been banned throughout the EU after laboratory tests on rats had showed growth of cancerous tumours in the liver and bladder. The contamination of food with the dye had triggered the UK’s biggest ever recall of products in 2005 after a Worcestershire sauce was found to be contaminated by the allegedly carcinogenic dye.

FSSAI Advisory on sale of contaminated pickles 

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