The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (November 16) announced that a prepackaged rice vermicelli sample was detected with cadmium, a metallic contaminant, exceeding the legal limit. Members of the public should not consume the affected batch of the product. The trade should also stop using or selling the affected batch of the product immediately if they possess it.

     Details of the product are as follows:
Product name: DONGGUAN RICE STICK
Product brand: PEACOCK BRAND
Place of origin: China
Sole agent: Guanghong Corporation Limited
Dealer: Master Blessed Ltd
Net weight: 400 grams (14.1 ounces) per pack
Best before date: June 1, 2019

     "The CFS collected the rice vermicelli sample from a shop in Sham Shui Po for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The result showed that the sample contained cadmium at a level of 0.16 parts per million (ppm), exceeding the legal limit of 0.1ppm," the spokesman said.

     "The CFS has informed the vendors concerned of the irregularity and instructed them to stop sale and remove from shelves the affected batch of the product. The importer concerned has initiated a recall. Members of the public may call the importer's hotline at 9485 5329 during office hours for enquiries about the recall," the spokesman added.

     According to the Food Adulteration (Metallic Contamination) Regulations (Cap 132V), any person who sells food with metallic contamination above the legal limits is liable upon conviction to a fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months.

     "Based on the level of cadmium detected in the sample, adverse health effects will not be caused under usual consumption. However, consumers who have bought and still possess the affected batch of the product should stop eating it," the spokesman said.

     The CFS will alert the trade, continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health. Investigation is ongoing.

Ends/Thursday, November 16, 2017
Issued at HKT 18:23

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