Italian almond pastry found with glass fragments (with photo)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (April 17) urged the public not to consume a kind of almond pastry imported from Italy as it might contain glass fragments. The trade should also stop selling the product concerned.

The product details are as follows:

Producer: Ghiott Dolciaria
Product name: Ghiottini I Cantuccini alle mandorle
Country of origin: Italy
Packing size: 250 grams
Best before date: April 30, 2015

"The CFS received notification from the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed of the European Commission that a consumer complaint about glass fragments in the Italian almond pastry concerned was received in Germany. The affected product has also been imported to Hong Kong," a spokesman for the CFS said.

The spokesman said that the importer concerned, Ping Shan Foods Co Ltd, was immediately contacted once the CFS was aware of the case. According to the initial findings, the affected batch of the product was imported in 2013. The CFS has instructed the importer to stop supply of the affected batch of the product and initiate a recall. As a prudent measure, the importer has initiated a recall of the affected product, regardless of batches. Members of the public may call the company's hotline at 2498 9203 for enquiries.

"The CFS has alerted the trade to the incident and has contacted the major retailers in Hong Kong. So far, no affected product was found available for sale. The trade should stop selling the affected product immediately."

He advised consumers not to consume the affected batch of the product concerned. They should also stop consuming other batches of the product concerned if they are in doubt. So far, the CFS has not received any related complaints about the affected product since January this year.

The CFS will continue to closely monitor the case and take appropriate follow-up action.

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (April 17) urged the public not to consume a kind of almond pastry imported from Italy, Ghiottini I Cantuccini alle mandorle (pictured), as it might contain glass fragments. The trade should also stop selling the product concerned.

Ends/Thursday, April 17, 2014
Issued at HKT 19:29