Cancer-causing dye is discovered in 350 foods

... Cancer-causing dye is discovered in 350 foods By Joe Elston 18 February 2005 Britain's largest food recall was under way last night after an illegal dye known to cause cancer was found to have contaminated millions of ready meals and cooking sauces. More than 350 product lines, ranging from prawn salad to Pot Noodles, were being withdrawn by supermarkets and retailers after the Food Standards Agency (FSA) warned they were contaminated by Sudan I - a red colouring normally used in products such as shoe polish and petrol. Medical experts said the presence of the chemical led to an increased risk of cancer but insisted that there was no risk of "immediate ill-health". The cost of the recall, which affects own-brand foods produced by all the major supermarkets and leading manufacturers including Heinz and Birds Eye, was estimated at more than £15m. The red dye, which is banned across the European Union, was contained in a

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