Summary
- Sudan dyes are a class of industrial dyes, mainly used to impart colour to products, such as oil paints, engine oils, wax and shoe polish;
- Excessive ingestion of Sudan dyes can lead to liver and kidney damage, allergic reactions and other problems;
- Administrative Regulation No. 6/2014 “List of Prohibited Substances for Use in Food" of Macao, amended by Administrative Regulation No. 3/2016, prohibits the use of Sudan dyes in any food;
- The food sector has to observe quality control at the source, and purchase food products and raw materials (e.g. chilli products) of good quality and in good hygiene condition from reputable suppliers to ensure that the products and raw materials used do not contain Sudan dyes;
- The public should maintain a balanced and diversified diet to reduce the risk of excessive ingestion of contaminants or additives due to consumption of a limited range of food.
Introduction
Recently, the authorities of the region of Taiwan detected the presence of Sudan dyes in chilli powder, which has garnered widespread attention. A large number of products were involved in this incident, resulting in large-scale food recalls and affecting many well-known local enterprises. In light of the incident, this article gives an introduction of Sudan dyes and their potential health risks, the international and local regulations, and advices to the sector and the public on reducing the risk of ingestion of Sudan dyes through food.
Sources of Sudan dyes and their health risks
Sudan dyes are a class of industrial dyes, mainly used to impart colour to products, such as oil paints, engine oils, wax and shoe polish. As they are readily soluble in fats and oils and are inexpensive, some unscrupulous members of the food sector illegally added them to food products (e.g. chilli powder) to enhance the colour of food products and for the colour to last longer, or they added Sudan dyes for industrial use to animal feed to enhance the colour of the yolk of duck eggs to make them appear more appealing.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) assessed the safety of Sudan dyes and classified them as a Group 3 substance, meaning they are “not classifiable as to their carcinogenicity to humans". Although there is no clear evidence that Sudan dyes are carcinogenic to humans, its excessive ingestion can lead to liver and kidney damage, allergic reactions and other problems.
International and local regulations
According to Administrative Regulation No. 6/2014 “List of Prohibited Substances for Use in Food" of Macao, amended by Administrative Regulation No. 3/2016, it is prohibited to use Sudan dyes in any food products. The food laws and regulations of Mainland China, the European Union and other countries and regions (e.g. Canada, Hong Kong and the region of Taiwan) also prohibit the addition of Sudan dyes to food.
Moreover, the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) collects samples of food products on the market for testing through routine food surveillance, sampling inspection of seasonal and festive food products and targeted food surveillance, among others, to ensure the safety and hygiene of food commercially available on the local market. In addition, IAM gathers and analyses food safety information from around the world through the Food Safety Information Monitoring System to oversee the safety of food for sale on the market. Once a particular food product is identified to pose risk to food safety, IAM immediately takes preventive and control measures to contain the spread of the food safety risks. It also issues press releases in a timely manner for the information of the public to safeguard food safety in Macao.
Advice to the food sector
- The food sector has to observe quality control at the source, and purchase food products and raw materials that are of good quality, in good hygiene condition and safe for human consumption from reputable suppliers, avoiding use of food products from unknown or unreliable sources;
- If members of the food sector have to ensure the food products and raw materials used (e.g. chilli products) do not contain Sudan dyes, they may conduct testing on the received raw materials or finished products;
- The food sector should retain records of food purchase and sale, the receipts and invoices, sanitary certificates and other relevant documents for review and to facilitate food traceability by competent authorities when necessary;
- The sector has the responsibility to comply with and cooperate in food recalls and the removal of affected food products from the shelves. Upon learning that a certain food product may pose risk to food safety, members of the sector should proactively recall and remove the food products from shelves, and notify IAM of the information about the recall and its progress.
Advice to the public
- Consumers should shop at reputable shops in good hygiene condition;
- While shopping for food, especially chilli and chilli products, consumers should avoid food products that are unnaturally bright red in colour or priced unusually low;
- Consumers should pay close attention to information and announcements on food safety released by IAM. If they have the food product involved in a food safety incident, they have to stop consuming the product at once;
- If consumers notice the colour of certain food products is unnatural or unusual, or they are doubtful about their safety, especially in the case of chilli and chilli products, consumers should not buy or consume the food products concerned;
- Consumers should maintain a balanced and diversified diet to reduce the risk of excessive ingestion of contaminants or additives due to consumption of only a limited range of food.
Reference:
1. Administrative Regulation No. 6/2014 “List of Prohibited Substances for Use in Food", amended by Administrative Regulation No. 3/2016 (Printing Bureau of the Macao SAR Government), June 2016
https://bo.io.gov.mo/bo/i/2014/09/regadm06_cn.asp
2. Sudan Dyes Zone, (Department of Health of Taipei City Government, region of Taiwan), July 2024
BRR 005 DAR 2024
