Hundreds of Crosse and Blackwell Worcester sauce bottles are being removed from supermarket shelves as a precautionary measure after the Department of Public Health was yesterday informed by the EU that a potentially cancer-causing dye had been illegally used in a batch of the product.
The product is thought to contain Sudan 1 - a carcinogenic red dye used to colour solvents, oils, waxes, petrol and shoe and floor polishes - which is prohibited for use in foodstuffs by the EU.
The UK has already withdrawn over 350 products after it was revealed they contained Worcester sauce infused with Sudan 1.
Despite Malta having similar products to those withdrawn in the UK on its supermarket shelves, John Attard Kingswell, manger health inspector at the Department of Public Health, said the island had only received an alert related to the brand of Worcester sauce that has been withdrawn. Mr Attard Kingswell explained that Malta was connected to the EU's rapid alert food and feed system and every member state was obliged to make any problem or possible risk known to the rest.
"This morning (yesterday), we received an alert on the Worcester sauce produced by Premier Foods in the UK. We have taken immediate action to withdraw this product as a precaution and the trader involved is obliged to inform its clients and get it off the market," he said.
The local traders, Paolo Bonnici, already started recalling the Crosse and Blackwell Worcester sauce four days ago.
When contacted, director Joseph Bonnici said the company they imported from had advised them to withdraw this product last week and in fact hundreds have already been recalled.
"We are taking all the precautions necessary and informing all those supermarkets and outlets we distribute to," he said.
Mr Attard Kingswell insisted there was no cause for alarm and consumers should not panic if they have consumed this product.
Martin Seychell, the head of the foodstuffs, chemicals and cosmetics directorate of the Malta Standards Authority, said: "Putting things into perspective, you would have to consume large amounts of Sudan 1 for anything to happen and the dye is not used in large quantities in foodstuffs in the first place, so the risk is minimal".
Mr Attard Kingswell, as secretary of the Food Safety Commission, is the local contact for the rapid alert system. He is flying to Brussels today for a regular meeting with all contacts of other member states. Sudan 1 is on the agenda.
Since 2003, all imported products entering the EU had to be certified as being free of Sudan 1. In fact, the Food Standards Agency in the UK is trying to establish how a contaminated batch, part of a five-tonne consignment, was wrongly certified or passed down the supply chain to Premier Foods before 2003.
Premier Foods had contacted the FSA after being warned about the danger last month by an Italian customer who was supplied with Crosse and Blackwell Worcester sauce.
However, prior to this warning Premier Foods had distributed the contaminated Worcester sauce to numerous other companies that had used it as a base ingredient in their products. The FSA has published a list of 359 products which may have used the sauce.
The health authorities in Malta say they are taking the matter very seriously and will keep the public updated on any other food products which should be withdrawn if the need arises.
Those who have any queries or require further information may call the Department of Public Health on 2133 2225.