Wandsworth Dodgy Curry

Council Issue Dodgy Curry Alert

Safety warning over chilli and chutney products

Food safety officials are warning people not to consume a variety of spicy food products which have been found to contain a banned substance that can cause cancer.

Fears over the products have been voiced by The Food Standards Agency and passed onto local councils.

The substance has been found in a variety of chilli powders, chutneys and relishes. The affected foodstuffs are produced by two manufacturers - Rajah brand and Shaws.

The Rajah products listed below have a best before end date of 18/07/2005 or later and have been found by environmental health staff on sale at various outlets in Wandsworth.

ï¿½ Rajah Tandoori Masala
ï¿½ Rajah Natural Tandoori Masala
ï¿½ Rajah Jerk seasoning
ï¿½ Rajah Chilli & Lemon seasoning
ï¿½ Rajah Oriental Noodle seasoning
ï¿½ Rajah Chicken seasoning

These products are retailed in 100g and 400g packets. These sizes and larger sizes (1kg and 8 kg) are also sold through wholesalers. No other Rajah products are affected.

The Shaws brand products, which have a best before date of 01/02/2006 are:

ï¿½ Red Pepper & Aubergine Relish 280g
ï¿½ Hot Mango Chutney 300g
ï¿½ Flaming Hot Chutney 300g
ï¿½ Spicy Apricot Chutney 300g
ï¿½ Mild Chilli Relish 300g
ï¿½ Tomato Relish 300g
ï¿½ Onion Chutney 300g
ï¿½ Curried Fruit Chutney 300g
ï¿½ Barbecue Relish 300g

The following Shaw's products, which may have been purchased by catering companies, are also affected and should not be used:

ï¿½ Tomato Relish 2.4kg
ï¿½ Mild Chilli Relish 2.4kg
ï¿½ Tomato Chilli Relish 2.4kg
ï¿½ Chilli Relish 2.4kg
ï¿½ Red Hot Chilli Sauce 2.3kg

All of these products contain chilli powder originating from India that has been contaminated by an illegal dye called Sudan I, a potentially cancer causing chemical. 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.

Anyone who has bought these brands or seen them on sale should immediately contact their local council or call the following help lines:

Rajah products: 0800 0721122
Shaws products: 01484 539999

For further information and to see images of the labels used on these brands, log onto the Food Standards Agency's website at www.food.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/sudan.

Anyone who wants further advice or wishes to report the sale of these products can call Wandsworth Council's food safety team on (020) 8871 7382.

August 6, 2003