Nineteen more food products have been removed from the market in Great Britain when it was discovered that the banned red food dye Para Red was present in them. Para Red was used in cayenne pepper which was an ingredient in all of the recalled foods. This now brings the total to 66 products that have been banned for containing the illegal dye.

The coloring is similar to Sudan 1, a possible carcinogen which should not be eaten by people. While the chances of getting ill from eating a small amount of the dye are small, people are advised not to eat it as a precaution.

The British Food Standards Agency (FSA) issued a statement saying, 'At the levels found, the risk from eating any of these foods is very small, but as a precaution it would be sensible not to eat them.'

The contaminated spice is believed to have originated in Uzbekistan and was originally sold by a Spanish owned company.

The FSA will continue to search for the illegal dye in additional foods and more products may be banned as they are discovered. Para Red's primary use is in printing ink and it should not be used in any foods made for human consumption.