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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) today (June 4) called on the trade to immediately stop the use and sale of the following seven kinds of fruit juice/syrup and powder for manufacturing confections produced in Taiwan which might have been contaminated with di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), a plasticiser.
(1) Product name: Strawberry Snowflake Ice Powder (translation)
Exporter: Signwin Food Enterprise Co, Ltd
Importer: Oriental Pearl (Intl) Trading Company
Packaging: 100 Kg
Batch No: AS1104066
Expiry date: October 14, 2012
(2) Product name: Strawberry Pudding Powder
Exporter: Signwin Food Enterprise Co, Ltd
Importer: Natural Source Trading Co
Packaging: 5 Kg
Batch No: AS1103061
Expiry date: September 9, 2012
(3) Product name: Honey Peach Syrup
Exporter: Chung Fai Food Co, Ltd (translation)
Importer: Good Young (HK) Co Ltd
Packaging: 20 Kg
Expiry date: April 15, 2012
(4) Product name: Kiwifruit Syrup
Exporter: Chung Fai Food Co, Ltd (translation)
Importer: Good Young (HK) Co, Ltd
Packaging: 2.5 Kg
Expiry date: March 3, 2012
(5) Product name: Lychee Syrup
Exporter: Chung Fai Food Co, Ltd (translation)
Importer: Good Young (HK) Co, Ltd
Packaging: 20 Kg
Expiry date: July 12, 2011
(6) Product name: Mango Syrup
Exporter: Chung Fai Food Co, Ltd (translation)
Importer: Good Young (HK) Co, Ltd
Packaging: 20 Kg
Expiry date: March 3, 2012
(7) Product name: Strawberry Syrup
Exporter: Chung Fai Food Co, Ltd (translation)
Importer: Good Young (HK) Co, Ltd
Packaging: 2.5 Kg
Expiry date: March 3, 2012
A spokesman for the CFS said, "The Centre received notification from the Taiwanese authority last night (June 3) that consignments of the aforesaid seven kinds of fruit juice/syrup and powder for manufacturing confections had been distributed to Hong Kong. The CFS has at once contacted the importer of the five kinds of fruit juice/syrup (i.e. items (3) to (7) above) , Good Young (HK) Co Ltd, noting that it has suspended sale of those five products and initiated recall."
He said, "The CFS continues to trace the importer of the two kinds of powder for manufacturing confections (i.e. items (1) and (2) above) so as to take follow-up actions accordingly."
It is understood that the origin of the problem is believed to be the use of a clouding agent in the ingredients for food/drinks, which has been adulterated with the plasticiser DEHP.
The CFS will continue to investigate the incident, closely monitor the situation and collect samples of related products for testing.
The spokesman said, "The CFS has alerted the trade of the incident. It will continue inspection at the retail outlets as well as sampling and
testing of the five categories of food products from Taiwan that are possibly contaminated with the plasticiser. Samples of other popular food products similar in nature will also be collected for testing.
"If any food product is found to be tainted with the plasticiser, the CFS will make an order as soon as possible to prohibit the import and supply of the product concerned under existing legislation, and to direct that any affected food product be recalled and disposed of. Test results will also be released on the CFS website (www.cfs.gov.hk)."
He added, "The CFS will be in close liaison with the Taiwanese authority on the incident, monitor the situation and take appropriate follow-up actions."
Ends/Saturday, June 4, 2011
Issued at HKT 22:28
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