Undeclared allergen found in almond cracker imported from Korea (with photo)

A spokesman for the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (April 25) said that a pre-packaged kind of almond cracker manufactured in Korea has been found to contain an allergen, peanut, but has not been declared on the product's food label. Consumers who are allergic to peanuts are advised to refrain from eating the product concerned. The trade should also stop selling the affected product immediately.

Product details are as follows:

Product name: "HAITAI" EDO pack Almond Cracker
Place of origin: Korea
Packing size: 133g (22.1 grams x 6 packs)
Best before date: December 8, 2014

"Following up a food complaint, the CFS took samples of the concerned product from a retail shop for testing. A sample was found to contain peanut but had not been declared on its list of ingredients of the food label. The CFS has contacted the distributor, EDO Trading Company, and alerted the trade to the incident. The distributor indicated that they have initiated a recall of the product concerned. For enquiries about the recall, consumers may call the company's hotline (2614 2728) during office hours.

"Peanut is a known food allergen. Those who are allergic to it may develop symptoms like vomiting, diarrhoea, asthma and rash upon consumption. In severe cases anaphylactic shock may even develop," the spokesman said.

He said the CFS has informed the distributor and retail shop concerned. The trade has also been alerted to stop selling the product.

The spokesman advised consumers who have bought the affected product and are allergic to peanuts to stop eating it immediately, regardless of batches. People should seek medical treatment if they feel unwell after taking the food.

The Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) Regulations (Cap.132W) require that all prepackaged food for sale in Hong Kong should list out the food ingredients in its list of ingredients. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $50,000 and six months' imprisonment.

The CFS will continue to monitor the situation and take appropriate follow-up actions.

The Centre for Food Safety of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (April 25) urged members of the public who are allergic to peanuts to stop eating a kind of almond cracker imported from Korea. The product has been found to contain peanut, an allergen, but has not explicitly been declared on the product's food label. Picture shows the product concerned.

Ends/Friday, April 25, 2014
Issued at HKT 20:55