All 1,200 KFC outlets in China stopped selling New Orleans roast
chicken wings and chicken burgers on Wednesday after the
cancer-causing food coloring, Sudan I, was found in the sauce a day
earlier.
According to a statement released on Wednesday by Yum, KFC's
parent company, the remaining suspect sauce will be destroyed. Yum
did not release the name of the supplier.
"We are deeply sorry for this food safety accident and promise
it will never happen again," said the statement.
Yum indicated that KFC has already found a new sauce supplier
and New Orleans roast chicken wings are expected to be back on the
menu next week.
Sudan I is a red dye used for coloring solvents, oils, waxes,
petroleum products and shoe and floor polishes. It cannot safely be
used in food as it can increase the risk of cancer.
Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) entered in the Chinese market in
1987. It now has 1,200 outlets in 260 cities nationwide.
It is the latest to be named in the "red dye storm."
China launched a food safety blitz when Sudan I was detected in
Meiweiyuan pepper sauce, produced by the Heinz-Meiweiyuan Food Co.
The discovery was made during a routine inspection early this month
and thousands of boxes of the sauce were destroyed.
But the General Administration for Industry and Commerce said
that food containing Sudan I had been distributed in
municipalities, provinces and autonomous regions throughout the
country.
Beijing's food safety office announced on Wednesday that all
flavoring products made by Heinz-Meiweiyuan have been banned in the
capital city.
On Monday, Carrefour Shanghai said that it had pulled
Tantanxiang pickled turnips from its shelves because it was found
to contain Sudan I. The brand is produced by Changsha Tantanxiang
Flavoring and Food, based in Hunan
Province.
Both Heinz-Meiweiyuan and Changsha Tantanxiang were supplied
with additives by the Guangzhou Tianyang Food Co.
Chili powder containing Sudan I was discovered by quality
inspection authorities in Zhejiang
Province on March 7.
(Xinhua News Agency, China.org.cn March 17, 2005)