Following the successful prosecution of East Anglian Food Ingredients Ltd by East Sussex County Council, the Food Standards Agency has said that it demonstrates that food companies’ legal responsibility to ensure quality and safety will be enforced.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more


The company was prosecuted for using the illegal dye Sudan I after local authorities were alerted to the problem in July 2005. The company was fined GBP2000 (US$3498) and ordered to pay GBP3000 in legal expenses.


David Statham, director of enforcement at the Food Standards Agency said: “Food companies have a legal responsibility to ensure that the food they sell is safe and fit for human consumption.


“I very much welcome the outcome of this investigation. This successful prosecution is the result of a lot of hard work by Essex County Council officials during a long investigation.”


Investigations by other local authorities into other aspects of the alleged use of Sudan I in foods and food ingredients are ongoing.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

Just Food Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Food Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Winning five categories in the 2025 Just Food Excellence Awards, Centric Software is setting the pace for digital transformation in food and FMCG. Explore how its integrated PLM and PXM suite delivers faster launches, smarter compliance and data-driven growth for complex, multi-channel product portfolios.

Discover the Impact