Consumer alert as cancer-causing food dye recalled

THE Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has warned consumers to avoid a variety of ready meals, soups and sauces which may contain an illegal food colourant with cancer-causing properties.

The authority yesterday recalled 39 products from the Irish market after they were found to contain an illegal red food colourant called Sudan Red 1.

The colourant is an industrial dye used in the manufacture of chilli powder. It has been banned throughout Europe since 2003 due to its carcinogenic properties.