CFS urges public not to consume a kind of Yerba Mate tea imported from Taiwan

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (May 27) urged the public not to consume tea prepared with a kind of Yerba Mate tea bag imported from Taiwan, regardless of batches, as the product was suspected to be made from inedible plant ingredients. The trade should also stop selling the product concerned immediately.

Details of the product are as follows:

Product name: Natural Garden Yerba Mate Tea
Place of processing: Taiwan
Package: 15 bags per pack
(3 grams per bag)

A CFS spokesman said, "Following up on the investigation of the Taiwanese authorities into the use of inedible plant ingredients in manufacturing teabags by Miaoli County's Mr Teago Limited, the Centre has noted that Yerba Mate tea sold by a Hong Kong company, Metro Alliance Limited, is one of the affected products announced by the Taiwanese authorities. The CFS immediately contacted the importer concerned for follow-up. According to the information provided by the importer, the company has bought the affected Natural Garden Yerba Mate Tea from Miaoli County's Mr Teago Limited. Some of the affected product has been sold and there are currently 125 cartons in stock.

"The CFS has marked and sealed all the remaining stocks from the importer and is tracing the distribution of the product concerned. The vendor in question has voluntarily stopped selling and removed from shelves the affected product."

The CFS will alert the trade to the incident. The trade should stop selling any product immediately that is suspected to be affected. Members of the public who have purchased the concerned product or have doubts in related products they have purchased should stop consumption and contact the concerned retailers. For enquiries on the affected product, the public may call Metro Alliance Limited (Tel: 2881 8518) during office hours.

The CFS will continue to follow up the case and liaise with the Taiwanese authorities, and take appropriate actions to safeguard food safety and public health.

Ends/Wednesday, May 27, 2015