All 1,200 KFC outlets in China stopped selling New Orleans roast chicken wings and chicken burgers on Wednesday after the cancer-causing food coloring, Sudan I, was found in the sauce a day earlier.
According to a statement released on Wednesday by Yum, KFC's parent company, the remaining suspect sauce will be destroyed. Yum did not release the name of the supplier.
"We are deeply sorry for this food safety accident and promise it will never happen again," said the statement.
Yum indicated that KFC has already found a new sauce supplier and New Orleans roast chicken wings are expected to be back on the menu next week.
Sudan I is a red dye used for coloring solvents, oils, waxes, petroleum products and shoe and floor polishes. It cannot safely be used in food as it can increase the risk of cancer.
Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) entered in the Chinese market in 1987. It now has 1,200 outlets in 260 cities nationwide.
It is the latest to be named in the "red dye storm."
China launched a food safety blitz when Sudan I was detected in Meiweiyuan pepper sauce, produced by the Heinz-Meiweiyuan Food Co. The discovery was made during a routine inspection early this month and thousands of boxes of the sauce were destroyed.
But the General Administration for Industry and Commerce said that food containing Sudan I had been distributed in municipalities, provinces and autonomous regions throughout the country.
Beijing's food safety office announced on Wednesday that all flavoring products made by Heinz-Meiweiyuan have been banned in the capital city.
On Monday, Carrefour Shanghai said that it had pulled Tantanxiang pickled turnips from its shelves because it was found to contain Sudan I. The brand is produced by Changsha Tantanxiang Flavoring and Food, based in Hunan Province.
Both Heinz-Meiweiyuan and Changsha Tantanxiang were supplied with additives by the Guangzhou Tianyang Food Co.
Chili powder containing Sudan I was discovered by quality inspection authorities in Zhejiang Province on March 7.
(Xinhua News Agency, China.org.cn March 17, 2005)
