The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (September 29) announced that a sample of prepackaged red chili flake was detected with sudan dyes, a colouring matter which is not permitted in food. The CFS is following up on the case.

Product details are as follows:

Brand: Passion by Mama
Product name: Red Chili Flakes
Place of origin: India
Distributor: Co Op Buy Ltd.
Net weight: 80 grams per pack
Best-before date: September 5, 2023

A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS collected the above-mentioned sample from an online shop for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained Sudan I at a level of 0.179 parts per million and Sudan IV at a level of 0.043 parts per million."

The CFS has informed the vendor concerned of the irregularity and instructed it to stop sale and remove from shelves the affected batch of the product. The distributor concerned has initiated a recall according to the CFS's instructions. Members of the public may call its hotline at 5132 5916 during office hours for enquiries about the recall. The CFS is also tracing the source of the affected batch of the product.

The spokesman said, "Sudan dyes are synthetic chemical dyes for industrial use. Under the Colouring Matter in Food Regulations (Cap. 132H), sudan dyes are not permitted in food. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $50,000 and six months' imprisonment."

The CFS will alert the trade, continue to follow up on the case and take appropriate action. An investigation is ongoing.