Analysts from the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) are studying a newly-identified group of dyes which could be harmful if used in food.
The new group was identified in a review by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) which carried out a risk-assessment following alerts for Sudan 1 and Para Red in many member states, including the Republic, this year.
The review found that the Sudans, Para Red, and Rhodamine B in the first group were carcinogenic and/or genotoxic, ie capable of damaging DNA.
However, a second group of dyes which could cause concern if used illegally in food was also identified as being potentially carcinogenic and genotoxic.
In the Republic the illegal carcinogenic food colourant Sudan Red 1, banned in 2003, was discovered this year in over 40 food products and removed from shelves.
Yesterday, Dr Iona Pratt, FSAI chief specialist in toxicology, said the EU review reflected the scare this year about Sudan dyes in food, and the FSAI was asked to do a risk assessment.
She said the EFSA also looked at four other basic groups of dyes that could be in foods. These foods were coming mainly from India and China, and the dyes could be in such foodstuffs as spices, curry and chilli powder.
"Consumers should not be alarmed or worried as we don't know that these other dyes are actually in foods.
"Our advice is that consumers should not be worried about Sudan Red. Any amounts found were so small, and there would be very little dye in the products.
"With the other dyes, a better system is now in place to identify them."
She said the new dyes which were identified were not necessarily in food. "It is a pointer for our analysts to start looking for the dyes."
Dr Herman Koeter, the EFSA's deputy executive director, said the EFSA could not carry out a full risk assessment of the dyes because of inadequate data available.
"However, the review carried out by the panel of the limited toxicological data confirms the suspected carcinogenic and/or genotoxic potential of these dyes which member states and the commission already had on their target list of dyes not authorised for food.
"It also identifies other dyes which could raise concern should they be used illegally in food."