Consumers urged not to consume two kinds of noodle and dumpling from Taiwan

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (October 8) urged the public not to consume a kind of noodle and a kind of cooked dumpling imported from Taiwan as they were made with substandard lard. Traders who have the products concerned in their possession should stop supplying the products and should recall the products in accordance with a Food Safety Order (the Order) issued on September 14.

Products details are as follows:

(1) Product name: Traditional Tiny Noodles
Place of origin: Taiwan
Manufacturer: Long Kow Foods Enterprise Corporation
Use-by dates: March 5, 2015; April 14, 2015, April 21, 2015; May 22, 2015; July 8, 2015; July 24, 2015; and August 1, 2015

(2) Product name: Pork Cooked Dumpling
Place of origin: Taiwan
Manufacturer: Chi Mei Frozen Food Co., Ltd
Batch: April 28, 2014; May 5, 2014; and June 9, 2014

A CFS spokesman said that the Centre received a latest notification from the Taiwanese authorities informing that the above two kinds of food products were made with CG Fragrant Lard Oil produced by Chang Guann Co., Ltd (Chang Guann) in Taiwan, and some of the affected products were exported to Hong Kong.

He said, "The Order issued mid last month covered all lard/lard products produced by Chang Guann on or after March 1, 2014, and all food products made with those lard/lard products. The trade who has the products concerned should stop supplying, initiate recall, seal or return the products to the supplier. The CFS will alert the trade about the incident and closely monitor the disposal of the affected products by the traders concerned as stipulated in the Order."

Members of the public and traders who would like to secure a copy of the list of affected products can pay attention to the relevant information available on CFS' website: www.cfs.gov.hk/english/whatsnew/whatsnew_fst/whatsnew_fst_Substandard_Oil_Produced_in_Taiwan.html.　

The CFS will continue to follow up on the incident and take necessary actions, which include liaising with the Taiwanese authorities closely and stepping up inspections of high-risk vendors throughout Hong Kong to ensure that the affected products are not used or available for sale. Furthermore, the CFS, having considered public concern over the safety of edible oil, will enhance surveillance for edible oil and relatively high-risk foods imported from other places (including Taiwan) in the coming year. Samples will be tested for contaminants in order to safeguard food safety and public health.

Ends/Wednesday, October 8, 2014