The health department of east China's Shandong Province hunted down and seized a number of spicy seasoning containing the cancer-causing Sudan I Monday in its capital Jinan.

The 164 boxes of spicy seasoning food, produced by the Guangzhou-based Heize Meiweiyuan Food Co. Ltd., were seized in thestorehouse of the company's Jinan agent, after the provincial health department found more than 100 bottles of the seasoning in a hotel.

The agent said the seasoning did not sell well in Jinan becauseof a high price and "a peculiar taste to many locals".

The provincial health department immediately ordered another round of checkup in all the shops and supermarkets in Shandong, but found no other food containing the cancer-causing colorant.

The Heize Meiweiyuan Food Co. Ltd was ordered to halt production for Sudan I checkup by the Ministry of Health on March 5.

Source: Xinhua