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UPDATE - HEALTH HAZARD ALERT

CERTAIN FOOD PRODUCTS MAY CONTAIN SUDAN DYES

Related Alerts

OTTAWA, February 25, 2005 - The public warning issued on February 23, 2005 has been updated to include additional information on products and distribution.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public not to consume the products described below. These products contain non-permitted colours, Sudan I and/or IV, which are considered to be carcinogenic.

The following products are affected by this alert (February 25, 2005, 6:00 pm EST):

1. Walkers Worcester Sauce Flavour Crisps is sold in a 34.5 g package, bearing UPC 000328 756103. All Best Before dates are affected by this alert. This product, imported from the United Kingdom (UK), is known to have been distributed in Ontario, but may have been sold across Canada.
2. Pot Noodle, Beef & Tomato Flavour all pack formats with Best Before dates up to and including NOV 05. This product, made by Unilever Bestfoods UK and imported from the United Kingdom (UK), is known to have been distributed in Ontario, but may have been sold across Canada.
3. Minar Chilli Powder (Extra Hot Mirch Powder) is sold in a 100 g package, bearing the lot code 11321. This product, imported from Pakistan and packed by ITN Food Corp., Toronto, Ontario, is known to have been distributed in Ontario.
4. Anmol Red Chilli Powder is sold in a 400 g package, bearing UPC 6 096329 073171 and the codes Pkg date Dec/2003 and Exp date Dec/2005. This product, packed by Staple Foods, Karachi, Pakistan, may have been distributed nationally.
5. Sani "Poivron rouge moulue" is sold in a 5 K package, bearing UPC 0001208500092. This product, imported from Lebanon, was available from MASA Inc., Saint-Laurent, Quebec. It may have been distributed nationally.
6. Red Chilli, large crushed pieces, is sold in an unlabelled 2 kg package, bearing the lot code 2487. This product, imported from Lebanon, was available from MASA Inc., Saint-Laurent, Quebec. It may have been distributed nationally.
7. Dan-D-Pak Rice Toonies Rice Crackers Red Hot Chili Pepper is sold in a 90 g package, bearing the lot code 5193. This product, imported from Thailand by Dan-D Foods Ltd., Richmond, British Columbia, was distributed in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario.

Products number one and two, listed above are associated with the on-going recall for Sudan I in the UK. The Food Standards Agency in the UK has issued a list of affected food products which can be found at: http://www.food.gov.uk/safereating/sudani/sudanlistno.

Products number three to seven, listed above are not associated with the on-going recall in the UK.

The CFIA is working with importers and distributors to remove the affected products from the marketplace. The CFIA is continuing its investigation and further alerts may be issued as needed.

Sudan I and IV, red dyes, are not permitted as food colours in Canada. Sudan I, has been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals and these findings could also be significant for human health. There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products.

The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recalls.

For more information, consumers and industry can call the CFIA at 1-800-442-2342. 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. local time - Monday to Friday.

For information on receiving recalls by electronic mail, or for other food safety facts, visit our web site at www.inspection.gc.ca.

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