By Staff Reporter
In a statement, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment reiterated its commitment to ensuring food safety and protecting consumers
The Maragatty chicken broth products, which contain banned colours, are not available in local markets across the UAE, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MoCCae) confirmed on Tuesday, March 4.
In a statement, MoCCae reassured the public of its commitment to ensuring food safety and protecting consumers, emphasising its continuous efforts to safeguard public health.
This confirmation follows action taken by the Saudi Food & Drug Authority (SFDA), which issued a recall of Maragatty chicken stock cubes on February 28. The product was found to contain artificial colours that have been banned due to potential health risks to consumers.
Issuing a warning to consumers , the Saudi Food & Drug Authority (SFDA) said it has taken regulatory action against the importing company.
The authority has also advised the public to avoid consuming this product and immediately dispose of remaining quantities if they have any.
‘Actively monitoring’ coloured food items
In January, MoCCae said it stepped up vigilance on food safety by “actively monitoring” products, particularly those containing colour additives.
This followed after the US banned the use of a synthetic food dye that gives some candies, snacks, fruit products, cakes and certain oral medications a cherry-red colour, following evidence that the dye causes cancer in laboratory rats.
The Food and Drug Administration’s ban on Red No. 3 dye in food items comes more than three decades after it was prohibited for use in cosmetics. The dye is currently used in nearly 3,000 food products in the US.
