European stores are removing thousands of jars of pasta sauces because they contain a cancer-causing dye normally used in gasoline and shoe polish.
Sky News said consumers are being warned to avoid the affected brands, including Bertolli, as well as private-label sauces made for supermarket chains Sainsbury's and Safeway.The alert follows the discovery of a red dye called Sudan 1 in chili powder used in the sauces. The dye -- classified as a carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer -- is normally used for industrial purposes in solvents, gasoline and shoe polish, but is banned in food.
The Safeway branded products are Red Pesto, Sun-dried Tomato and Balsamic Vinegar Stir-in Sauce, and Chargrilled Red Pepper and Vegetable Stir-in Sauce.
The Sainsbury's products are: Italian Tomato and Mascarpone Stir-in Sauce, Italian Sun-dried Tomato and Balsamic Vinegar Stir-in Sauce, Be Good to Yourself Mediterranean Vegetable Stir-in Sauce, and Italian Hot Mixed Peppers Pasta Sauce.
The only Bertolli sauces affected are 185g jars of Pesto Rosso.
Health officials told Sky News the amount of contaminated chili powder in the sauces is not believed to pose any immediate health risk.
