Public urged not to consume Taiwanese drink powder suspected to be contaminated (with photos)
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     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) today (June 3) urged the public not to consume for the time being the following two kinds of drink powder produced in Taiwan with nutrition claims, which might have been contaminated with di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, a plasticiser. The trade should immediately stop selling these two products.

(1) Product name: Oriyen Nutri Grow (boy) Orange Drink Premix
Manufacturer: Jin Zhuan Lifesciences Enterprise Co, Ltd
Bar code number:  36135
Net weight: 330 grammes (g)
Packaging: Boxed package (15 sachets per pack; 22g per sachet)
Manufacturing date: August 13, 2010
Expiry date/Use by date: August 13, 2013

(2) Product name: Oriyen Nutri Grow (girl) Cranberry Drink Premix
Manufacturer: Jin Zhuan Lifesciences Enterprise Co, Ltd
Bar code number:  36136
Net weight: 330g
Packaging: Boxed package (15 sachets per pack; 22g per sachet)
Manufacturing date: August 13, 2010
Expiry date/Use by date: August 13, 2013

     A spokesman for the CFS said, "The Centre received notification from the Taiwanese authority last night (June 2) that consignments of the aforesaid two kinds of drink powder with nutrition claims had been distributed to Hong Kong. The CFS has at once contacted the importer, Cosway (HK) Limited, and instructed it to stop sale immediately of the affected products.

     "The CFS understands that the importer is the sole agent of the aforesaid products in Hong Kong. They were only available for sale to their members at the company's online store (www.ecosinfo.com/hongkong/tw_hk/welcome_hk.html). There is no other distributor and the products concerned are not for sale at the company's retail outlets. The importer has suspended sale and will recall these two kinds of drink powder concerned on its initiative."

     The CFS will continue to investigate the incident, closely monitor the recall arrangements 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 produced in 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 to prohibit the imports and supply of the concerned products under existing legislation, and to direct that any affected food products be recalled and disposed of. Test results will also be released on CFS' website (www.cfs.gov.hk).

     "The CFS will be in close liaison with the Taiwanese authority on the incident, monitor the situation and take appropriate follow-up actions."

Ends/Friday, June 3, 2011
Issued at HKT 20:42

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