Two major supermarkets have withdrawn six products contaminated with the cancer-causing Sudan chemical dyes, the Sunday Times reported on Sunday.

The newspaper had laboratory tests carried out on spices bought randomly from supermarkets countrywide.

Pick 'n Pay and Shoprite removed the products after results of the analysis done by SGS South Africa -- a leading laboratory which does regular Sudan testing for some major industry players -- revealed that of the samples tested, six were contaminated with one or more of the Sudan dyes.

They were classified as potentially cancer-causing by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, part of the World Health Organisation.

The products included peri-peri spice made by Robertsons -- a Unilever company with the lion's share of the spice market -- and two Taj Mahal spice products made by Osman's Spice Works, a large spice merchant.
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