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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (June 10) announced that a sample of pre-packaged rice imported from Japan was detected with excessive cadmium, a metallic contaminant. The trade should stop selling the affected product immediately.
Details of the product are as follows:
Product name: Rinse-free Yamagata Tsuyahime
Place of origin: Japan
Manufacturer: Iris Ohyama Inc
Importer: Mineichi (Hong Kong) Industries Limited
Best before date: March 19, 2016
Net weight: 1.8 kilograms
"The CFS collected the sample at import level for testing under its regular Food Surveillance Programme. Test result showed that the sample contained cadmium at a level of 0.19 parts per million (ppm), exceeding the legal limit of 0.1 ppm. According to the information provided by the importer, the import quantity of the affected Japanese rice was seven cartons with a total weight of about 50 kg, of which five cartons were sold to 'YATA Department Store' in Sha Tin and 'YATA Supermarket' in Kwun Tong, while the remaining two cartons were stored in the importer's warehouse. The CFS has informed the importer concerned of the above irregularity and instructed it to stop the sale and remove from shelves the affected batch of product. The importer has voluntarily recalled the affected batch of product and the Centre has marked and sealed all recalled product and the remaining stock. Prosecution will be considered," a CFS spokesman said.
"Based on the level of cadmium detected in the sample, adverse health effects will not be caused by normal consumption," the spokesman said.
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 advises the public to maintain a balanced and varied diet and consider complementing rice with other cereals (for example noodles, oatmeal and bread) as part of the diet so as to avoid excessive intake of particular chemicals or contaminants because of picky eating," the spokesman added.
The CFS will inform the Japanese authorities and the local trade, closely follow up the incident and take appropriate actions to safeguard food safety and public health. Investigation is ongoing.
Ends/Wednesday, June 10, 2015
Issued at HKT 20:25
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