According to the Food Standards Agency, the recalled goods contain spices made with low amounts of Para Red. 'At the levels found, the risk from eating any of these foods is very small, but as a precaution it would be sensible not to eat them.'

It brings the total number of goods thought to contain the dye Para Red to 66.

The latest ones being withdrawn include products made by Pataks, Tesco and Asda. Para Red is a potentially cancer-causing industrial dye similar to Sudan 1.

It was found in cayenne pepper supplied by Spanish company Ramon Sabater and imported into the UK by Lion Foods.

According to the Food Standards Agency, the recalled goods contain spices made with low amounts of Para Red. "At the levels found, the risk from eating any of these foods is very small, but as a precaution it would be sensible not to eat them," the FSA said.

And customers who have any of the products at home should contact the relevant store or manufacturer for a refund.

The first batch of 35 affected products was announced on May 5 and another 12 were recalled the following day and an FSA spokesman said that contaminated spices could be found in still more.

"As yet we don't know because products are still being tested," he said.

Shoppers are advised to look out for in-store notices about affected products.

A list of the affected products can be found at www.food.gov.uk/parared

© 2005 Evening Chronicle - Newcastle-upon-Tyne. All rights reserved.
© 2005 Daily News Central. All rights reserved.