The Hindu Business Line : Contaminated chilli powder entered UK in 2002: FSA

THE UK Food Standard Authority (FSA) has confirmed that the chilli powder said to have been used in the Worcester sauce and has been identified as the cause of the Sudan 1 contamination, was imported into the Kingdom in 2002 from the exporter, Gautam Export of Mumbai, and it had changed three hands before it reached the producer of the sauce.

The "deliberately raked up issue" as the All India Spices Exporters Forum (AISEF) described it, hit the headlines here despite the fact that the contaminated chilli powder was exported long ago and the normal shelf life for food products in Europe is a maximum of two years.

In fact, in response to the rapid alert notification from the EU authorities, the Spices Board had suspended the certificate of registration of the involved exporters including Gautam Export with effect from June 13, 2003, Mr C.J. Jose, Chairman, Spices Board, told Business Line.

Now confirming that the chilli powder was imported in to the UK in 2002 the FSA Official, Mr David Yard, has said that the UK authorities has so far withdrawn more than 570 different products following the detection of Sudan 1.

He also confirmed that the chilli powder was supplied by Gautam Exports of Mumbai to EW Spice Ltd, who being the agents for East Anglian Food Ingredients Ltd of Essex, delivered the products to it. This company then sold the product to Unbar Rothon Ltd, Essex, which sold it again to the Premier Foods Ltd, who produced the Worcester sauce.

Thus, the products supplied in 2002 had changed three hands as per FSA and finally used by Premier Food Ltd in their sauce. However, Mr S. Kannan, Director, Marketing (Spices Board), told Business Line on Sunday that for manufacturing sauce, chilli powder was used as one of the minor ingredients along with several other items. "Hence, the possibility of other ingredients contaminated with Sudan dye is also not ruled out," he pointed out.

Also, the manufacturers may have used chilli powder from more than one sources and such other products may also have been contaminated. Therefore, "we need confirmation that material used by the manufacturer of sauce was exclusively sourced from India to positively link Indian exports to samples drawn and tested for Sudan-1,'' he argued.

He clarified that with effect from October 23, 2003, all spice product exportershave been directed to notify the Board. Samples from the export consignments are being drawn by the Spices Board or agencies designated by it, for analysing the presence of Sudan Red-1. This regime along with the stringent action taken against units identified to have been involved would ensure that there would be no recurrence of the problem after the mandatory sampling.

The samples drawn from the export consignments as per the above directive would also be analysed for the presence of aflatoxin.

The scope of sampling prescribed under the directive is also made applicable to all varieties of whole chillies for analysis of aflatoxin with effect from November 17, 2003, he said.

Therefore, ``we are positive that there would be no instance of adulteration by Sudan I-IV or presence of aflatoxin beyond tolerable limits after November 17, 2003.''

Meanwhile, Mr Kannan also felt that the buyers, ``who seek to buy processed material at less than the cost of the raw material used in the finished products should bear a part of the blame.''

The Indian exporter is responsible for supplying contamination free material up to the port of entry in the UK or any European/other destinations, he said.

After a number of rapid alert notifications were issued by the EU and the Commission's decision in October 2003 insisting for a compulsory report to confirm absence of Sudan contamination, the buyers should have verified their stock for possible adulteration with Sudan.

This examination might have avoided the present crisis, he pointed out.

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Contaminated chilli powder entered UK in 2002: FSA