Health department officials in Jinan, capital of Shandong Province in east China seized packets of spicy seasoning containing the carcinogenic Sudan-I made by Heinz.
Heinz was ordered to halt production of some of the food items on Saturday after Sudan I was found in products manufactured by the company in China.
The 164 boxes of spicy seasoning food, produced by the Guangzhou-based Heinz Meiweiyuan Food Co. Ltd., were seized in the storehouse 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 because of a high price and "a peculiar taste to many locals", Xinhua news agency reported.
The provincial health department ordered another round of searches check-up in all the shops and supermarkets in Shandong, but found no other food containing the dye.
Earlier, China Daily reported that Heinz had issued a national recall of chilli sauces and chilli oils that may contain the red industrial dye.
"Heinz has told its distributors and sales agencies across the country to recall the suspected products," regional president of Heinz (China) Investment Co Ltd., Charles Chyi was quoted as saying by the newspaper.
Six products of Heinz companies, including chilli sauces, oils and extracts, are suspected of containing Sudan-I.
