Sudan Dyes in Foodstuffs

Before anyone goes ballistic over this latest food scare here are my sources researched since last summer when the Hungarian Goulash problem was announced.The UK have been fully aware of these dyes being used by unscrupulous suppliers from places like India and for an enourmous company like Premier Foods to claim they have made a 'mistake' is utterly crass and irresponsible. Own up you moron who tried to cut safety corners for profit.Many of the sites re this scare are down today Saturday 19th February 2005 however the New Zealand and Australian authorities, who maintain a far stricter regime than we can manage here, are always far ahead of the situation. Get your information from people who talk straight and do their jobs well. Summer 2004
Are there any Sudan Dyes in Chilli and Paprika Powder? A recent national survey of chilli and paprika powders found that there were no detections of Sudan I, II, III or IV in the products tested .
Food Standards Australia New Zealand * Recent international surveys, particularly in the United Kingdom, have found a number of chilli, paprika, relish and chutney products containing chilli powders, being contaminated with Sudan I and Sudan IV. The implicated products were primarily sourced from India. *
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), in collaboration with all Australian States and Territories through the Food Surveillance Network, conducted a survey in March 2004 to determine if the red dyes­-Sudan I, II, III or IV-were present in chilli and paprika powders available for sale in Australia. The Australian survey focussed on chilli and paprika powders from India and other Asian countries as these were considered to be the likely source of Sudan dyes based on the results of overseas surveys.

56 samples were collected throughout Australia and were analysed by AgriQuality Australia Pty Ltd. There were no detections of Sudan I, II, III or IV in any of the 56 samples tested and the following limits of detection applied:
                            Sudan I = 0.5 mg/kg;
                            Sudan II and III = 1.0 mg/kg; and
                            Sudan IV = 2.0 mg/kg.
Although a relatively small number of samples were tested, the results of this survey provides information to the Food Authorities that indicate that chilli and paprika powders available to the Australian public are not contaminated with Sudan dyes.
FSANZ and the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) will continue to liaise with the States, Territories and New Zealand on the appropriate level of testing of imported foods for these contaminants.
In addition a number of other outcomes were observed as part of this survey. In particular, the survey provided:

• a catalyst for a laboratory to develop the analytical capability to test for Sudan dyes in foods, thus enhancing domestic testing capabilities;

• insight into the great diversity of these products in the Australian market; and

• information on compliance with labelling requirements of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. The relevant enforcement agencies were informed of these non-complying samples.
  For further information contact Jonathon Kite, Modelling, Evaluation and Surveillance Section, FSANZ, on 02 6271 2262 or jonathon.kite@foodstandards.gov.au
  Follow the link below to read about the testing done by the New Zealand Food Safety Authority on imported chilli powders from India for Sudan I.
  http://www.nzfsa.govt.nz/consumers/food-safety/sudan-1/index.htm

CHEF OF THE MONTH...NEW FEATURE!

Mike Glennon is joining us soon. He has trained with us for a few months offering his services for free in order to gain experience and knowledge. Already a competant and innovative cook he has now branched out into full time Personal Chef work. If I tell you that in his first week he made a cool £1000 and allready gained a regular client. Go Mike! You can now see that this is a great business to be in if you are prepared to put in the effort.
Paul Ellis has been hovering in the background and is about to take on his first Personal Chef UK Client A Film Location Catering job in East London. Wish him luck because he is going to put around 12 days of hard work into this. I have seen his menus and I wish I wa a crew member. Good Luck Paul!
Peter Pudiate of Kitchen Angels is another recent addition to the site as is Hussein
Congratulations to Ellen Crabtree for establishing her business this year and gaining a really fast rising reputation. She is a very valuable asset to Personal Chef UK. Her web site is perfect and absolutely right for the customer. Remember this site is the initial contact and your own site sells YOU

IDEAS COMING SOON

I get many chefs demanding that I represent them here, however my criteria is strict and believe me , you are not here by accident! Money alone cannot buy you a place on this site.
Due to the numbers coming in I have decided to give each chef his/her own page with a photo link from the Chef's Page so in future you will see a block of photo's and a little about your area and your expertise which will link directly to your very own page on this site.
If you have material and copy and especially references, please let me have them ASAP so that I can complete each page fully before launching...don't want any dead space!!
Testimonials are vital and customers love to read these. You do not give the client's details but if those clients are willing to give refernces then just add your email link for permission.

Relentless Promotion Campaign

This has been a very exciting year and I have invested much time and money trying to make the best group site for chefs in the United kindgdom. Some will say that my own profile is very high here but that is intended. If you look up my name you will find it linked to the name Personal Chef in many areas. I do this to keep a high profile so that the website is prominent giving you all great coverage. Recently I became a Black Star Ecademist and the Personal Chef profile rose in the rankings with my own name. Don't forget I am representing all of us here. We will shortly be listed in Kemps which is a film and TV commercial directory for services to that industry. There are many opportunities here and anyone interested in that work please let me know. I will help introduce you to it.

LINKS
I have some very prestidgious incoming links from good companies on the same theme as ourselves. I always give a reciprocal link to a related business. It would be good business sense to add a link to Personal Chef UK.Com on your own site somewhere because we are all connected and power comes from connectivity. As I said before it takes a great deal of effort to keep high up in Google rankings along with other search engines. New pages get added and they can swamp established pages for a while. Google in particular seem to move targets at an alarming rate and I find I am working more in HTML than I am in the kitchen.

Public Speaking and Lecturing

If anyone is interested in this would you let me know. I intend to make a section dedicated to those who wish to, and are able to give public talks in schools, W.I. and Networking Events. I have recieved a few inquiries regarding this