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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (February 26) announced that it was notified by the New Zealand authorities that certain Evergreen brand manuka honey products were being recalled as they might contain non-approved additives. Follow-up investigation by the CFS found that one of the affected products had been imported into and sold in Hong Kong.
A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS received a notification from the New Zealand authorities that the New Zealand manufacturer Evergreen Life Limited is recalling certain manuka honey products as there is information to suggest that non-approved substances, dihydroxyacetone and methylglyoxal, may have been used during the processing of the honey, though there is no food safety risk associated with the recalled products. According to the information provided by the New Zealand authorities, a small volume of the affected products had been imported into Hong Kong."
The CFS immediately followed up with the Hong Kong importer concerned, Tak Hung Hong International Limited. Information provided by the importer showed that the following affected product had been imported and distributed in Hong Kong:
Product name: Evergreen Manuka New Zealand Honey MGO 600+ mg/kg
Net weight: 500 grams per bottle
The importer confirmed that all affected product had been distributed to its retail outlets for sale. The importer has stopped sale and removed from shelves all affected product. A recall has also been initiated. Members of the public, if in need, may call the importer's hotline at 2606 0310 during office hours for enquiries about the recall.
The CFS will continue to monitor the case and take appropriate action.
For details of the Evergreen products under recall, please visit the website of New Zealand's Ministry for Primary Industries¡]www.mpi.govt.nz/food-safety/food-safety-for-consumers/food-recalls/evergreen-life-limited-manuka-honey-and-honey-products/ ).
Ends/Friday, February 26, 2016
Issued at HKT 21:21
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