CFS urges public not to consume two kinds of bottled olive oil products that may contain mineral oil

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     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (August 11) urged the public not to consume two kinds of bottled olive oil products, as the products might contain mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH). For the sake of prudence, the CFS urged the public not to consume the products concerned, regardless of batches. The trade should stop using or selling the affected products immediately if they possess any of them.

     Product details are as follows:
Brand: Olitalia
Product names: Olitalia Pomace Olive Oil 1L
Olitalia Pomace Olive Oil 5L
Distributor: Lorence & Company Limited
Place of packaging：Italy

     A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS proactively monitored through the Food Incident Surveillance System and noted an announcement issued by the Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain of Belgium indicating that the above-mentioned products were detected with mineral oil MOAH at levels exceeding the relevant standard. All batches of products concerned are being recalled in Belgium."

     Preliminary investigation revealed that the distributor concerned had distributed the affected products. As a precautionary measure, the distributor has voluntarily stopped sales, removed the affected products from shelves and initiated a recall. Members of the public may call the distributor's hotline at 2293 9398 during office hours for enquiries about the recall.

     According to the Mineral Oil in Food Regulations (Cap 132AR), no person shall sell for human consumption any article of food containing any mineral oil, unless the presence of mineral oil in any article of food is due to its use as a lubricant or greasing agent on some surface with which the article of food comes into contact in the course of its preparation (at levels not exceeding 0.2% by weight of the article of food).

     The CFS has collected over 3 000 edible oil samples for chemical and microbiological testing from 2023 to July 2026, under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. Except for one unsatisfactory sample that was announced earlier in which it was found to contain metallic contaminant, the remaining samples were found to be satisfactory.

     The CFS has contacted the Belgium authority over the incident and will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health. The investigation is ongoing.

Ends/Tuesday, August 11, 2026
Issued at HKT 23:10

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