The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (May 26) that a bottled oyster sauce sample was found to contain propyl para-hydroxybenzoate, a preservative not permitted in food. Follow-up is in progress. 

     Product details are as follows:
 
Product name: Oyster Sauce
Brand: Yuan's
Manufacturer: I-Ho-Yuan Food Products Ltd
Sole agent: Fu Kee Food Company
Place of origin: Hong Kong
Net volume: 250 millilitres per bottle
Best-before date: February 22, 2019

     "Subsequent to announcing earlier that a bottled oyster sauce sample taken from a shop in North Point was found to contain propyl para-hydroxybenzoate, the CFS detected a similar irregularity in another kind of bottled oyster sauce of the same brand taken from the same shop for testing during follow-up investigations. The test result showed that the sample contained propyl para-hydroxybenzoate at a level of 480 parts per million," the CFS spokesman said.

     Under the Preservatives in Food Regulation (Cap. 132 BD), propyl para-hydroxybenzoate is not a permitted preservative in food. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $50,000 and six months' imprisonment.

     The spokesman said the CFS has informed the vendor and the manufacturer concerned of the irregularity and they had stopped sale of the affected products. Prosecution will be instituted should there be sufficient evidence. The CFS is also tracing the distribution of the affected product.

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

Ends/Friday, May 26, 2017
Issued at HKT 19:25

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