Sudan 4 found in India-made chilli powder product
According to the Spice Board of India, the authority had in November conducted raids on the manufacturing facilities of Eastern Condiments, a Kerala-based manufacturer and exporter of spice products to the Middle East.
During these raids the authority had found high levels of the additive ‘Sudan4’ in consignments of curry powder that were set to be exported, an official at the board told FoodNavigator-Asia on the condition of anonymity.
Sudan 4 is a red dyes used for colouring oils, waxes, petrol and floor polishes, and is said to cause cancer because of which it is banned for use in food products in some countries.
Regulated ingredient
In India, according to regulations of the Spice Board of India, Sudan 4 can be used only in negligible amounts in curry powders meant for both domestic and export use; failure to adhere to which can result in heavy fines.
“In all, a little less than 1500 kilograms of the said curry powder at the company’s factory at Neeliyampeth was raided. This [powder] was then destroyed at the company’s premises itself,” he said.
The official adds that lab examination on the confiscated consignment revealed that each kg of the curry powder contained 14mg of Sudan 4, much higher than the allowed limit of 0.5mg/kg.
FoodNavigator-Asia contacted Eastern Condiments Corporate Office but the company did not return calls.
Navas Meeran, managing director of Eastern Condiments, said in a December 27 statement released on the company’s Facebook page that no raid was conducted on its facility.
Meeran said his company manufactures 1.1 million packets of curry powder for the domestic and international market and it is an ISO certified company.
“The company’s products for the domestic market are inspected by the Food Authority of India and the international export consignment is tested by the Spices Board of India,” he said.
“As part of internal quality protocol, we destroy products which are not up to the standard and such products never enter the market, domestic or international. Don’t believe this malicious campaign and continue to use Eastern curry powder,” he said defiantly.
