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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (August 17) that two samples of sauce imported from Taiwan were found to contain a plasticiser, di-butyl phthalate (DBP). The CFS called on the public to stop consumption and instructed the trade to immediately stop selling the batches concerned of two kinds of sauce, as follows:
(1) Brand name and food name: Flavor Full Black
Sesame Spread
Manufacturer: Flavor Full Foods Inc.
Place of origin: Taiwan
Net weight: 170 grams
Best before: May 19, 2012
(2) Brand name and food name: Kimlan Sweet Sauce
Manufacturer: Kimlan Foods Co, Ltd
Place of origin: Taiwan
Net weight: 200 grams
Best before: May 9, 2014
A CFS spokesman said, "The two samples were collected for testing while the CFS conducted surveillance checks at local retail outlets on the five categories of high risk food products (i.e. sports drinks; fruit juice; tea drink; fruit jam/fruit nectar or jelly; and food in tablet, capsule or powder form) and on other relevant food products in response to the plasticiser contamination incident in Taiwan.
"Test results showed that the samples of 'Flavor Full Black Sesame Spread' and 'Kimlan Sweet Sauce' contained DBP at levels of 0.88 parts per million (ppm) and 0.47 ppm respectively, exceeding the action level of 0.3 ppm adopted by the CFS."
He said, "Dietary exposure estimation revealed that the exposure to DBP by even high consumers from consuming the 'Flavor Full Black Sesame Spread' sample (with a daily consumption of about 20 grams) and the 'Kimlan Sweet Sauce' sample (with a daily consumption of about 18 grams) would not exceed the safety reference value, i.e. the Tolerable Daily Intake of 0.01 mg/kg of body weight established by the European Food Safety Authority."
Even though dietary exposure estimation showed no health concern from consuming the two samples, the spokesman said as a precautionary measure, the CFS had instructed the importers concerned to immediately stop selling and recall the affected batches of the two products.
The spokesman added that the importers concerned had surrendered all the remaining stocks of the affected products for disposal. The CFS also learnt that they had initiated product recall. Hotlines have been set up by local importers of the 'Flavor Full Black Sesame Spread' at 3628 7800 and the 'Kimlan Sweet Sauce' at 2382 0678 during office hours to answer consumers' enquiries about recall arrangements.
Those who have purchased the affected products are advised to stop consumption.
The spokesman added, "The CFS will closely follow up the case, conduct checks at retail outlets to see if the affected batches are available for sale and take samples of similar products in the market for testing.
"If any food product is found to be tainted with plasticisers, the CFS will take the necessary follow-up action to safeguard public health."
Ends/Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Issued at HKT 19:33
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