dangerous - red chilli

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Internet: "Bharat (dasa) BVKS (BBT-Mumbai-IN)"

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05-Aug-03 03:05 (08:35 +0530)

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dangerous - red chilli

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LONDON: In a far-reaching decision, Europe has begun to implement

stringent new measures to regulate the import of chilli powder from

India, after it was found to contain a banned red dye that could cause

cancer. The Brussels directive may put the spotlight on the import of

several other spices from India into European Union (EU) countries.

The chilli powder alert comes despite the Indian products apparently

clearing European Spice Association requirements accepted by the

Spices Board of India, which specify that they are ''free from

adulteration''. On Monday, just days after the decision was enforced,

BE Foods International, a leading supplier of Indian spices to

Britain's huge Indian catering trade, told TNN: ''As an emergency

measure, our UK importer is now grinding chillies here in the UK.''

Terence Peace, managing director of Shaws, another British company

manufacturing hot chilli chutneys and relishes with Indian chilli

products, admitted the decision might force them to look for

''alternative sources''. Britain's independent watchdog, the Food

Standards Agency, told this paper that the imported Indian chilli

powder was thought to have been supplied by at least two western

Indian companies, possibly based in Mumbai. The powder had been tested

to find Sudan red-1, a chemical colourant normally used in shoe

polish, colouring solvents, oils, waxes and petrol, the FSAs Robert

Westhead said. The Brussels directive says that Sudan red-I ''may be a

genotoxic carcinogen (and) may also exert sensitising effects by

dermal route or inhalation''. Experts said the adverse publicity for

Indian spices and spice products could affect the recent proud boast

that India now accounted for just under half of a global export market

worth $1,500 million. The Brussels decision has had an immediate

impact on British companies supplying Indian spices to the UK's huge

Indian catering trade.

 

from: The times of india.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?msid=1125

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