ONE of the biggest public health warnings in years was issued last night after more than 350 food products were found to contain a potentially cancer-causing dye.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) raised the alarm when the dye - Sudan 1 - was found to have illegally contaminated a batch of chilli powder.

By then the powder had already been used to make a large consignment of Crosse and Blackwell Worcester Sauce which, in turn, was added as an ingredient in a host of other products.

Sudan 1 is a red dye normally used as a colouring in solvents, oils, waxes, petrol, and shoe and floor polish.

Experts warn it could contribute to an increased risk of cancer, although they add there is unlikely to be an immediate risk to health.

Investigations are continuing into how the chilli powder was contaminated before it was supplied to Premier Foods, which makes Crosse and Blackwell.

The product at the centre of the alert is not connected with the better-known Lea and Perrins Worcestershire Sauce.

The FSA published a list of 359 products that may have used the contaminated sauce and advised the public not to eat them.

The products include ready-made meals, sauces or other processed foods.

The list includes 68 own-label lines from Asda, 55 from Waitrose, 45 from Morrisons, 42 from Sainsbury's, 39 from Tesco, 26 from Somerfield, 14 from Iceland, 14 from the Co-op, and 15 from Marks and Spencer.

Typical products are shepherd's pies, pasta bakes, cottage pies, chicken wings, sausage casseroles, pizzas, steak and kidney pies and chilli con carne.

There are also a number of products made by well-known UK food companies.

Three flavours of Unilever's top-selling Pot Noodle brand are affected: Beef and Tomato, The Sizzler Bacon Flavour, and Hot Dog and Ketchup Flavour. All have a best-before date of November 2005.

The list includes seven products from Heinz: Weightwatchers Shepherd's Pie, Weightwatchers Beef Hot Pot, Weightwatchers Chicken in BBQ Sauce, two Heinz Shepherd's Pie lines and two Heinz Lamb Hot Pots.

It extends to a low-fat Caesar dressing made for burger chain McDonald's.

A full list of the products was placed on the FSA website - www.food.gov.uk - which suffered technical problems after the announcement with people trying to log-on.

The FSA has issued dozens of alerts about Sudan 1 in food dating back to 2003.

But until now the products concerned were mainly limited to lesser-known brands sold in specialist shops.

Dr Jon Bell, chief executive of the FSA, said: "Sudan 1 could contribute to an increased risk of cancer.

"However, at the levels present the risk is likely to be very small, but it is sensible to avoid eating any more. There is no risk of immediate ill health.

"The agency is working with the industry to ensure that any remaining affected products are speedily removed.

"Because of the widespread use of this Worcester sauce to flavour other foods, we may find further affected products. We will continue to take action to remove these and minimise the risk to consumers."

Premier Foods, based in St Albans, Hertfordshire, issued a statement transferring blame to its suppliers - but no apology.

"We believe the responsibility for any financial costs associated with the recall will rest with our suppliers and their insurers," it said.

"In any event, the company is insured against such eventualities."

All the supermarkets concerned said they had removed the products listed from sale.

An FSA spokeswoman said Premier Foods obtained the chilli powder from Essex-based spice and herb specialist Unbar Rothon, which in turned received it from East Anglian Food Ingredients (EAFI), also in Essex.

Unbar Rothon declined to comment, but EAFI said: "Where contamination could be established we recalled stock.