CFS urges public not to consume batch of imported sunflower seed product suspected to be contaminated with aflatoxin
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Product details are as follows:
Product name: Zonnebloempitten (Sunflower seeds)
Brand: Tovano
Place of origin: Bulgaria
Net weight: 700g
Best before date: November 30, 2025
Batch number: 346704-038
Importer: Chef's Garden Limited
Retailer: Feather & Bone
A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS received a notification from the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed of the European Commission (EU), the above-mentioned product is being recalled as it contained aflatoxin exceeding the EU's standard. Upon learning of the incident, the CFS immediately contacted local importers for follow-up. A preliminary investigation found that the aforementioned importer had imported into Hong Kong about 2.8 kilograms in total of the affected batch of the product concerned, which has been distributed to the retailer mentioned above for sale. The aflatoxin level of the product also exceeded the local legal standard."
The importer concerned has stopped sale and discarded the unsold products of the affected batch and initiated a recall according to the CFS's instructions. Members of the public may call the importer's hotline at 2819 7500 during office hours for enquiries about the recall.
The World Health Organization (WHO)'s International Agency for Research on Cancer classified naturally occurring aflatoxins as carcinogenic to humans, and the Joint Food and Agriculture Organization/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives advised that intake of aflatoxins should be reduced to levels as low as reasonably possible although no health-based guidance value has been set. Aflatoxins can lead to liver cancer after long-term ingestion, and the risk for hepatitis B carriers is relatively high.
The CFS will alert the trade to the incident, and will continue to follow up and take appropriate action. The investigation is ongoing.
Ends/Monday, April 28, 2025
Issued at HKT 20:35
Issued at HKT 20:35
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