Georgia: Inspection teams of the Georgian National Food Agency (GNFA), in November, took samples of 57 different categories of food to detect Sudanese group paint banned in food. Samples were sent to the National Bureau of Forensic Expertise named after Levan Samkharauli.
The study found that 4 samples of the food contain prohibited azo-dyes:
- Counter trader I/M Liana Qobalia; Food – Ajika; Date of manufacture: 01/10/2024; Validity: 01/03/2025 year; Violation – found paint Para Red; Address: K. Tbilisi, Agrarian Market, Zamatsvrishvili street N135.
- Counter trader individual Ketevan Kilasonia; Food-Ajika; Date of manufacture: 11.11.2024; Validity period – 6 months; Violation – Paint Para Red discovered; Address: C. Senaki, Agrarian Market, Rustaveli St. N180.
- I traded on the counter an individual Khatuna Pkhakadze; food – roasted red pepper; date of production: 18.10.2024; expiration date: 04.2026; violation – paint was found Sudan I and Sudan IV; address: city. Ozurgeti, agrarian market, Guria N35
- Trader I/M Maia Gelashvili; Food – Wet Ajika; Date of production: 13.11.2024 year; Validity period 20 days; Violation – paint was found Sudan I.; Address: Rustavi city 16th m/r-ni, the area near the agrarian market.
The mentioned food was stolen and the National Food Agency supervises its removal/destruction from the market. The investigation process will continue with this. National Food Agency urges customers if they have purchased this food, not to use it.
The Georgian National Food Agency, within the framework of the state monitoring program, carries out laboratory research on the banned food dyes annually throughout the country. This year 113 samples were collected, out of which only 4 cases of the banned paint appeared. The reduction of violations is a condition by the regulations implemented by the agency.
Specifically, according to the results of recent research, the main source of violations is imported red pepper. Given the level of risk, starting from October 2019, strict requirements will be applied when importing red peppers. Each batch of red pepper (flavored, peeled) at the time of importing (except EU, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, and Israel) shall be accompanied by an appropriate accredited laboratory examination certificate with a negative result on the content of Sudanese group paints.
According to Georgian law, the use of food paints: Sudan I; Sudan II; Sudan III; Sudan IV; Sudan orange G; Sudan Red G; Sudan Red 7 B, and Sudan red B are prohibited. “Sudanese” group paints are not naturally found in food, they belong to a group of artificial azo paints, which is not a permitted food supplement. These paints are added to the food to give color, in particular, red ground pepper is used to enhance the color.
