products
5 March 2007
The Department of Health will later today meet the representatives of the
Consumer Goods Council of South Africa to discuss the allegations that there
are chilli products that may still be contaminated with Sudan Red dyes.
In the meantime, the Department of Health has already requested local
authorities in all provinces to remove all chilli products that are suspected
to contain the prohibited Sudan Red dyes arising from the report of the Sunday
Times yesterday.
The products should be removed from shelves and subjected to testing.
Appropriate action as provided for under the regulations related to inspections
and investigations will be taken, if the products test positive.
Local authorities in whose areas of jurisdiction the implicated products are
processed are also urged to seriously consider further law enforcement steps
including prosecution of the companies concerned if the results of the samples
taken by them confirm the presence of Sudan Red dyes.
Local authorities are further requested to sample all chilli powders and
products that may contain chilli powders, including sauces, which were not a
subject of the media report. If any of the Sudan Red dyes are detected, these
products should be removed from the shelves and detained pending further
analyses.
Port Health Officers have been requested to detain and sample all
consignments of imported chilli powders and products that may contain chilli
powders, including sauces, and only release such consignments once the analysis
results indicate that it is free of Sudan Red dyes.
Samples should be submitted to the Forensic Chemical Laboratories of the
Department of Health in Pretoria or Cape Town.
For enquiries, contact:
Sibani Mngadi
Cell: 082 772 0161
Issued by: Department of Health
5 March 2007
