More food products containing the red industrial dye Sudan I, which has been linked to cancer, have been found in Beijing and Guangzhou.
An inspection by the authorities between March 19 and 29 in the capital city found 25 food products that contained Sudan I, according to the China News Service.
South China's Guangdong Province started a province-wide inspection for Sudan I-contaminated products Thursday, targeting food manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers.
The inspection was triggered when three more chili oils were found to contain the dye on Monday in Foshan, near the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions, said an official from Guangdong Provincial Administration of Quality Supervision.
Meanwhile, the Dalian Institute of Product Quality Supervision and Inspection in northeast China's Liaoning Province has come up with a special test to check food for Sudan I. It can be applied to most food products and will be used across China shortly, said the institute's head, Wang Chunyan.
The test costs less and is easier and quicker to conduct than the European Union's detection test, which can only be applied to a small range of foods and is more complicated, said Wang. She added that the Dalian test provides extremely accurate results.
The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine and the Standardization Administration of China jointly issued a new Sudan I standard on March 29.
The dye was first found in foodstuffs on the mainland on March 4, when the Beijing authorities found Meiweiyuan pepper sauce, produced by the Heinz Meiweiyuan (Guangzhou) Food Co, contained Sudan I. Numerous products across the country have since been found to contain the substance.
Heinz Meiweiyuan destroyed more than 300,000 chili sauces and chili oils suspected to contain Sudan I earlier this week.
Currently in Beijing, quality supervision authorities are tracing the production and distribution routes of 25 newly identified contaminated products.
Industry and commerce authorities have ordered that the products be removed from shelves and the warehouses of retailers involved sealed. Health officials are inspecting restaurants that use such products, and manufacturers are required to set up venues for recall within three days.
Food Products Containing Sudan I
(Identified in Beijing as of March 31, 2005)
Sanyuanqiao Fungus-vegetable with Chili Oil, 300g/unit, produced on Feb. 16, 2005; Sanyuanqiao Cucumber with Garlic, 300g/unit, produced on Mar. 18, 2005; Sanyuanqiao Spicy Dried Turnip, 300g/unit, produced on Dec. 13, 2004; Sanyuanqiao Capsicum with Chili Oil, 300g/unit, produced on Jan. 16, 2005; Sanyuanqiao Shredded Rutabaga with Sesame, 300g/unit, produced on Jan. 16, 2005 by Tianjin Hongfa Pickles Factory (under license by Beijing Mingyuan Co Ltd)
Ruguang Pickled Mustard Tuber, 10kg/box, produced on Mar. 16 and 20, 2005; Ruguang Pickled Mustard Tuber, 14.5kg/box, produced on Mar. 2, 10, 12 and 17, 2005; Ruguang Pickled Mustard Tuber, 20kg/unit, produced on Mar. 20, 2005; Ruguang Pickled Mustard Tuber, 9kg/unit, produced on Mar. 12, 2005 by Beijing Chengguan Lihong Ruguang Pickle Factory
Kaoshanju Shredded Pickled Mustard Tuber, 2.5kg/box, produced on Mar. 22, 2005 by Beijing Kaoshanju Food Co Ltd
Longhe Chili Oil, 90ml/bottle, produced on Jan. 19, 2005 by Tengzhou Longhe Condiment Factory of Shandong Province
Nanbeite Chili Oil Vegetarian Meat Slices, 100g/package, produced on Dec. 3, 2004 by Pingjiang Welfare Comprehensive Food Factory, Yuhua District, Changsha City
Zhengqian Salted Vegetable, 50g/package, produced on Oct. 5, 2004 by Zhengqian Food Co Ltd, Fuling District, Chongqing City
Qihui Cowpea, 88g/package, produced on Jan. 16, 2005 by Guanghua Food Co Ltd, Chengdu City
Chibuyan Pickled Mixed Vegetables, 250g/package, produced on Dec. 12, 2004 by Yunguang Food Co Ltd, Haining City, Zhejiang Province
Futian Spicy Minced Meat, 125g/package, produced on Mar. 12, 2005; Pinweijia Spicy Minced Meat, 125g/package, produced on Jul. 25, 2004 by Futian Food Co Ltd, Anshan City, Liaoning Province
Mimao Radish, 208g/package, produced on Feb. 27, 2005 by Hezhuang Vegetable and Pickled Food Co Ltd, Xiaoshan District, Hangzhou City
Guron Chili Oil Fermented Bean Curd, 210g/package, produced on Sep. 18, 2004 by Gurong Food Co Ltd, Guilin City
Medlar Hanxiang Dried Steak, 60g/package, produced on Sep. 18, 2004 by Keqi Food Factory, Yueyang Village, Yuelu District, Changsha City
Wanchun Spicy Sauce, 250g/package, produced on Sep. 25, 2005 by Wanchun Mountain & Wild Vegetable Food Co Ltd, Shitai County, Anhui Province
(China Daily, China.org.cn April 1, 2005)