Questions and answers on Sudan dyes contamination of certain food products

What are Sudan dyes?

Sudan dyes belong to a family of industrial dyes normally used for colouring plastics and other
synthetic materials. Up to now four Sudan dyes have been detected in certain food products, in
particular Sudan I and Sudan IV (or Scarlet Red).
Are Sudan dyes authorised as colours in food according the European legislation?
The current European legal framework on colours in food establishes a European positive list of
colours authorised for use in food to the exclusion of all others. As Sudan dyes are not included in
this list, the presence of these dyes in food is against the EU rules.
What are the potential health effects of these dyes?
Sudan I may have a genotoxic effect and Sudan I to IV have potential carcinogenic effects according
to the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Consequently, the fraud identified by
adulteration of food products by Sudan dyes constitutes a risk for public health.
When was the contamination of certain food products by Sudan dyes originally detected?
The presence of Sudan I was detected in May 2003 by an official laboratory in France testing
consignments of chilli powder and chilli products. Legislation has since then been adopted at EU
level to prevent contamination and to trace and remove contaminated products that were already in
the food chain (see question below on What has been done by the European Union). The control
authorities in the Member States have performed analytical tests and recalls of food products found
to be contaminated. The Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed is the network used to inform the
Commission and the Member States of the presence on the market of contaminated batches of food.
What are the food products concerned by this contamination?
Originally, the contamination by Sudan I was detected in chilli and chilli products. However, the
reinforcement of food monitoring in the Member States revealed that other spices (curcuma or
sumac) and virgin palm oil are also concerned by this contamination, as well as some processed
products containing contaminated ingredients. Some other Sudan dyes have been found in food
products.
Why are these dyes used in food?
In the case of chilli, Sudan I is suspected to be fraudulently used in order to enhance and maintain
the colour of the product. The price of chilli powder is largely linked to the intensity of the colour
and its maintenance. Indeed vegetable products lose their colour over time and thus may became less
appealing to consumers.

What has been done by the European Union to tackle the problem?
In June 2003, the Commission adopted a Decision (Commission Decision 2003/460/EC) obliging
food companies to test imported raw materials, in order to avoid the contamination of food products.
It also requested Member States to carry out testing of products on the market in order to assess the
extent of the problem.
This monitoring revealed that the contamination by Sudan I concerned in fact a wide range of food
products including various processed foods containing chilli as an ingredient. Other Sudan dyes have
been found in chilli and chilli products in the EU.
On this basis, a second Decision, (Commission Decision 2004/92/EC) was adopted in January 2004
extending the measures in place to other food products and to the other dyes of the Sudan family.
What was the problem detected with the United Kingdom?
In February 2005, the UK authorities reported a wide recall of food products. This recall was
initiated after the discovery of the contamination of a consignment of Worcester sauce in which
contaminated chilli from a stock of 2002 had been used. The traceability of food products, which
means the capability to trace up-stream and down-stream, is a basic principle of European
legislation. This made it possible to trace the products in which the contaminated ingredient had
been used.
In case of a recall, Member States have to use the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed to inform
each other of the measures taken, to allow them to verify whether the also are concerned by the
problem.