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Batches of the Japan-manufactured Meiji milk powder found to contain radioactive substances are not available for sale in Hong Kong following preliminary understanding from the Japanese authorities and local importers / distributors, a spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department's Centre for Food Safety (CFS) said today (December 7).
He was speaking in response to media enquiries on follow-up actions taken by the CFS.
The spokesman noted that officers from the CFS met with representatives of a number of importers / distributors today to ascertain whether the affected batches, which were being recalled by its Japanese manufacturer following detection of radioactive substances, have been imported into Hong Kong.
It was learnt that the concerned batches have not been put on sale in the local market. Only one of the importers indicated that it has recently imported a consignment of an affected batch into Hong Kong, but the whole consignment has not entered the local market and will be returned to the manufacturer. The spokesman said that the CFS would continue to monitor the situation.
In addition, the CFS has deployed staff today to inspect the retail outlets and has, so far, not found any cans of the concerned batches on the shelves.
The spokesman added that the CFS had all along been concerned about the safety of food imports from Japan. Since March 12, 2011, i.e. the day of the nuclear plant incident, the CFS has stepped up tests of radiation levels of food products (including milk powder) imported from Japan according to the guideline levels (iodine-131 (100 Bq/kg), caesium-134 and caesium-137 (1,000 Bq/kg)) laid down by the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex).
The guideline levels are set for Radionuclides in Foods Contaminated following a Nuclear or Radiological Emergency in testing the radiation levels of food products. According to the Codex, when radionuclide levels in food fall within the corresponding guideline levels, the food should be considered as safe for human consumption.
Members of the Expert Committee on Food Safety were also briefed today on the follow-up actions taken by the CFS. Committee members endorsed the continuous adoption of Codex standards for testing of Japan-manufactured milk powder.
A total of 140 samples of Japanese milk powder have been collected at import (including by air and sea), wholesale and retail levels and tested since March this year. Among them, 50 milk powder samples were manufactured by Meiji. No radioactive substances were found in any of these milk powder samples.
The spokesman advised consumers who have bought Meiji milk powder to check the label on the cans to see whether they were the affected batches. Details of the concerned products are as follows:
Brand and food name: Meiji Hohoemi Kona Milk Powder (For 9 months - 3 years)
Manufacturer: Meiji Dairies Corporation
Place of origin: Japan
Net weight: 850 grams
Best before: October 4, 2012
October 21, 2012
October 22, 2012
October 24, 2012
Moreover, members of the public should also patronise reliable shops and, if in doubt, may ask distributors to have a look at the letter issued by the CFS stating that the concerned Japanese food consignments had passed the CFS' radiation test.
The CFS will continue to liaise with the Japanese authorities on the Japan nuclear incident, closely monitor the situation and take appropriate follow-up actions. The surveillance results on Japanese food products will continue to be uploaded to the CFS website (www.cfs.gov.hk) on working days.
Ends/Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Issued at HKT 21:49
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