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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (October 30) that a batch of prepacked salted radish was found to contain preservatives (benzoic acid and sorbic acid) at levels exceeding the legal limit. The trade should stop using or selling the affected batch of the product immediately.
Details of the product are as follows:
Product name: Wholesome Choice Salted Radish
Place of origin: China
Distributor: AS Watson Group (HK) Limited
Net weight: 200 grams
Best-before date: March 3, 2016
A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS collected a sample of the above-mentioned prepacked salted radish at a supermarket in Quarry Bay for testing under its regular Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that it contained benzoic acid and sorbic acid at levels of 2,200 parts per million (ppm) and 250 ppm respectively. The sum of the proportion of the maximum permitted levels of respective preservatives in that food has exceeded the legal limit.
"The CFS has informed the vendor concerned of the irregularity and the vendor has stopped selling and removed from shelves the affected batch of the product according to the CFS' instruction. Should there be sufficient evidence, prosecution will be considered. The CFS is also tracing the source and distribution of the affected product."
Both benzoic acid and sorbic acid are commonly used preservatives in the preparation of preserved vegetables and are of low toxicity. Based on the levels detected in the unsatisfactory sample, adverse health effects will not be caused under normal consumption.
The spokesman reminded the food trade that the use of preservatives in food must comply with the Preservatives in Food Regulation (Cap 132BD). Offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and six months' imprisonment upon conviction. Members of the public should buy food from reliable suppliers, and maintain a balanced diet so as to avoid excessive intake of certain harmful substances as a result of frequent consumption of a small range of food items.
The CFS will inform the local trade to stop using or selling the affected batch of the product immediately.
The CFS will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate actions.
Ends/Friday, October 30, 2015
Issued at HKT 17:56
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