Shoppers are being warned to be vigilant after environmental health officers seized palm oil contaminated with a toxic dye.

Officers from Barnet Council seized 70 bottles of Ghanaian palm cooking oil during a raid on a shop in Watling Avenue, Burnt Oak earlier this month.

The bottles were found to contain high levels of the red dye Sudan IV - commonly used in waxes, polishes and petrol but carcinogenic if consumed.

The business owner could not provide any paper work about the oil’s origins, and the labels lacked legally required information.

Laboratory tests confirmed that the oil contained high levels of Sudan IV, and the authority was granted permission to destroy it on May 15.

The seizure follows an alert from the Food Standards Agency last month, warning of contaminated palm oil being sold in a south London shop that may be supplied across London.

The oil was being sold in clear plastic containers, with a red screw top and no label, and a possible reference to Ghana on the bottom.

The oil seized in Burnt Oak was found in clear plastic bottles, but had both red and blue screw caps and the shop had used its own labels.

A number of other shops in the area were also checked.

Chairman of Barnet council's environment committee Councillor Dean Cohen said: “Anyone using this oil for cooking or preparing food could be put at risk so I would advise shoppers to follow FSA advice not to purchase or consume palm oil packaged in unlabelled, clear plastic containers which appears distinctly red in colour.

“Anyone who sees such products on sale in the borough should contact the council’s food team so that checks can be made.”