Soy Sauce cancer warning

4:06pm Wednesday 27th June 2001

MORE than 600 warning letters were rushed out to restaurants and take-aways in St Albans on Thursday in the wake of the revelation that some soy sauce products could cause cancer.

The environmental health department of St Albans District Council issued the letters after the Food Standards Agency (FSA) advised consumers to avoid certain brands.

A survey found high levels of potentially carcinogenic chemicals in products imported from Thailand, China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, and the agency is removing them from sale.

"Our main target is Chinese restaurants and take-aways," said a council spokesman, "But these products are used in other foods, so we have decided to send the letter to all."

The products could cause cancer to people who use them regularly over a period of time, but occasional consumers are in little danger.

Although a quarter of samples showed concern, the proportion of the UK market taken by these products is thought to be very small.

Details of the products concerned can be seen on the FSA website at www.foodstandards.gov.uk.