Tests for illegal dyes called into question

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has come into conflict with testing laboratories and some food manufacturers over its advice on testing methods for Sudan 1-related dyes.

In a letter sent out to trade associations last month, the FSA raised concerns over the reliability of LC MS testing methods for Sudan dyes on the grounds that there had been "considerable variability in results between laboratories analysing the same samples" and that "LC MS methods can produce false positive results at low levels"

In future, said the letter, manufacturers should use the less sensitive HPLC tests. However, Campden and Chorleywood Food Research Association, which has been conducting LC MS tests for manufacturers since the latest Sudan 1 crisis broke, said the letter appeared to conflict with the earlier zero tolerance approach of the FSA by suggesting that there were permissible levels of Sudan dyes in products after all.

The CCFRA said: "We have sent a letter to the FSA raising our concerns, but manufacturers are worried as well. In the meantime, we will continue to use LC MS tests because that is what our customers want."

One source at another testing lab said: "As the FSA has said that recalls should be issued whatever amount of illegal dye is detected, it is a bit of a u-turn to tell people to use a less sensitive HPLC method now."

Food manufacturers needed reassurance that action would not be taken against them if their products contained trace levels of banned dyes that were below the 0.5 parts per million level baseline just set by the FSA for HPLC tests, he said.

• An incidents task force set up by the FSA following the Para Red and Sudan dyes incidents will hold its first meeting this month. Its report in the autumn will recommend ways of reducing the risks of future contaminations and of improving the management of incidents.

Sustainable farming and food responsibilities in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs have been handed to Lord Bach after the general election. He replaced Lord Whitty, who stepped down at the end of the last parliament, and was procurement minister in the Ministry of Defence.

Elliott Morley has become the department's minister for climate change and the environment, from minister for the environment and agri-environment. Ben Bradshaw has swapped from minister for nature conservation and fisheries to parliamentary secretary for the local environment, marine and animal welfare. Jim Knight has taken over rural affairs.

Strike action at Ambala Foods escalated to two days a week on Thursday May 19 following the employer's refusal to give staff a pay rise. The Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU) has been campaigning every Friday since April 22 in a bid to get the manufacturer to lift a three-year pay freeze, but claimed it was making no progress. "We are looking to break the deadlock and will continue to strike until we get results," said the TGWU.