Public warned against consuming salad croutons containing soy without proper labeling (with photos)

A spokesman for the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (July 26) urged people with soy allergy to refrain from consuming a type of pre-packaged croutons for salad which were found to contain soy, but this had not been declared on the product's food label.

The spokesman also urged the trade to stop selling the product immediately.

Product details are as follows:

Product name: Cardini's Caesar Salad Croutons
Importer/Retailer: city'super
Packing size: 150 grams
Place of origin: Australia
Best before: September 25, 2013

"The CFS found through its routine food surveillance programme that the product concerned contained soy but this had not been declared on the food label. Upon investigation, the CFS found that the product was on sale in a chain supermarket.

"Soy is a known food allergen. People who are allergic to soy may have an immunologic response like vomiting, diarrhoea and rash upon consumption of food containing this allergen. In severe cases anaphylactic shock may even develop. As for other members of the public, generally speaking, they would not be subject to such reactions when the food in question is consumed," the spokesman said.

He said a warning letter had been issued to the importer/retailer concerned. The trade has also been alerted to stop selling the product.

"CFS staff have conducted checks on the concerned importer/retailer and found that sale of the product has been stopped. The importer/retailer indicated to the CFS that recall of the product concerned was under way. For enquiries about the recall, consumers may call the company's telephone hotline (2736 3866) during office hours. The CFS noted that proper declarations would be added to food labels of the unsold products as well as all products of the same kind imported afterwards," the spokesman said.

He advised consumers who have bought the particular product and are allergic to soy to stop eating it, regardless of any batch. People should seek medical treatment if they feel unwell after taking the food.

The CFS will continue to monitor the situation and take appropriate follow-up action. No reports of people feeling unwell after consumption of the affected product or complaints about it have so far been received.

The Centre for Food Safety of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (July 26) that a type of Australian pre-packaged Caesar salad croutons was found containing soy, an allergen, but has not explicitly been declared on the product's food label. Picture shows the product.

 

The Centre for Food Safety of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today that a type of Australian pre-packaged Caesar salad croutons was found containing soy, an allergen, but has not explicitly been declared on the product's food label. Picture shows the product.

Ends/Friday, July 26, 2013
Issued at HKT 19:34