Four kinds of food from Taiwan suspected to contain non-permitted colouring matter, Dimethyl yellow

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (February 25) urged the public not to consume four kinds of food manufactured by Mia Chung Co., LTD in Taiwan following a notification from the Taiwanese authorities that the products may contain Dimethyl yellow, a non-permitted colouring matter in food. The trade should also stop selling the products in question immediately, regardless of batches.

Product details provided by the Taiwanese authorities are as follows:

1. Product name: Mai Jien Bean Cake - Black Pepper Flavobags
   Place of origin: Taiwan
   Net Weight: 130 grams per pack

2. Product name: S.F. Vegetarian Mushroom & Fried Minced Pork
   Place of origin: Taiwan
   Net Weight: 390 grams per bottle

3. Product name: S.F. Vegetarian Mushroom with Dried Turnip
   Place of origin: Taiwan
   Net Weight: 390 grams per bottle

4. Product name: S.F. Vegetarian Mushroom & Bamboo Shoot Paste
   Place of origin: Taiwan
   Net Weight: 390 grams per bottle / can

"In response to the CFS' earlier detection of Dimethyl yellow in a dried bean curd sample originating from Taiwan, the Taiwanese authorities have been conducting follow-up investigations. The authorities informed us last month that certain batches of 12 kinds of bean curd and a kind of preserved bean curd containing the colouring matter in question had been exported to Hong Kong. The CFS immediately instructed the importers concerned and the food trade to stop selling and initiate a recall of the products in question.

"Another notification from the Taiwanese authorities was received today that the four kinds of food mentioned above were also found to contain Dimethyl yellow and had been exported to Hong Kong. The CFS immediately contacted the importers, Teamon Products Limited and Coils Electronic Co., Limited, and instructed the companies to stop selling and conduct a recall of the affected products. The CFS will also alert the trade to the incident and suspend the import of the above-mentioned products," a spokesman for the CFS said.

According to the Colouring Matter in Food Regulations (Cap. 132H), Dimethyl yellow is not permitted to be used in food in Hong Kong. The maximum penalty for selling food containing added non-permitted colouring matter is a fine of $50,000 and six months' imprisonment if convicted.

"Although there have been research results showing that Dimethyl yellow might cause cancer in experimental animals, no sufficient evidence has been found to confirm the health effects on humans from dietary intake of this colouring matter. However, for the sake of prudence, retailers should stop selling the affected products and return them to the supplier/importer concerned. Consumers should also avoid consuming the affected products," the spokesman said.

The CFS will continue to closely monitor the situation and the recall. Appropriate actions will be taken to safeguard food safety and public health.

Ends/Wednesday, February 25, 2015