The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (June 9) announced that a sample of prepackaged frozen giant scarlet shrimps imported from Spain was detected with mercury, a metallic contaminant, at a level exceeding the legal limit. The CFS is following up on the incident. 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.

     Product details are as follows:

Product name: Frozen Giant Scarlet Shrimp
Place of origin: Spain
Pack Lot: FCCAR25114
Best-before: April 2027
Importer: Classic Fine Foods (Hong Kong) Limited

     "The CFS collected the above-mentioned sample at the import level for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained mercury at a level of 0.85 parts per million (ppm), exceeding the legal limit of 0.5 ppm," a spokesman for the CFS said.

     The spokesman said that the CFS had informed the importer concerned of the irregularity and instructed it to stop sale and remove from shelves the affected product. The importer concerned has initiated a recall according to the CFS' instructions. Members of the public may call the importer's hotline at 2612 2066 during office hours for enquiries about the recall. The CFS is also tracing the source and distribution of the product concerned. 

     "Mercury may affect the nervous system, particularly the developing brain. At high levels, mercury can affect foetal brain development, and affect vision, hearing, muscle co-ordination and memory in adults," the spokesman added. 

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

     The CFS will alert the Spanish authorities and the trade, continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action. An investigation is ongoing.

Ends/Monday, June 9, 2025
Issued at HKT 19:55

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