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The Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority (CAFIA) has been verifying two notifications of the EU Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) stating that foodstuffs containing banned dye Sudan have been supplied to the Czech Republic.

In the first case, it was a consignment of 77 kg of Worcester sauce that was imported from the United Kingdom. The sauce was used as an ingredient mainly for production of other seasonings. Only a minority of these products were intended for the Czech market which, however, they did not reach thanks to good co-operation and prompt reaction of the purchaser. Other products had already been exported to Slovakia and Russia. Both countries were informed about this case.

Another prompt reaction ensured immediate withdrawal and destruction of about 200 pieces of tinned soups that were imported also from the United Kingdom. 46 pieces of these soups had been sold before the notification from RASFF was received, however, due to a very low concentration of the dye, consumers were directly threatened in neither case.

Red dye Sudan is known to be carcinogenic and it is contained mainly in chilli and curry powder. It is produced synthetically and does not occur naturally. Since 21 January 2005, very strict measures taken by the European Commission apply to imports of these spices and products that could contain them. They can be imported to the European Union only with a certificate showing that such spices are not contained in the product. All Member States have to ensure examination of all consignments of products containing chilli before they are placed on the market, and to carry out random inspections of products that are already on the market. This dye is not allowed to be used for production of foodstuffs in the European Union.

So far the majority of foodstuffs contaminated with the dye Sudan have been identified on the UK market. In the Czech Republic, the mentioned Worcester sauces and tinned soups have been until now the only case.