Prepacked sausage from Taiwan detected with preservative, sorbic acid
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     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (May 19) found that a kind of prepacked sausage from Taiwan contained sorbic acid, a non-permitted preservative in sausages. The trade should stop selling the affected product if they still possess it.

     Product details are as follows:

Product name: Chinese Sausage
Place of origin: Taiwan
Manufacturer: King of Kings Food Co Ltd
Weight: 240 grams per pack

     "The CFS collected the sausage sample for testing from a vendor in Kowloon City. The test result showed that the sample contained sorbic acid at a level of 320 parts per million (ppm)," the spokesman said.

     According to the Preservatives in Food Regulation (subsidiary legislation of Cap. 132), sorbic acid should not be used in sausages. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $50,000 and six months' imprisonment.

     Sorbic acid is a preservative of low-toxicity. Based on the level detected in the above-mentioned sausage sample, it is unlikely that the sample would pose any adverse health effect. The CFS has taken follow-up action on the unsatisfactory sample, including informing the vendor concerned of the test result, instructing it to stop selling the affected food item, tracing the source of the food in question and considering taking prosecution action. The CFS will also alert the trade to the incident and urge them to stop selling the product concerned, as well as inform the Taiwan authorities of the incident.

     The CFS will continue to follow up on the case and take appropriate actions to safeguard food safety and public health.

Ends/Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Issued at HKT 19:52

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