Undeclared allergen found in prepackaged coconut drink

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (October 16) announced that a batch of prepackaged coconut drink, KOH COCONUT Coconut Milk, produced in Thailand, had been found to contain a food allergen, milk protein, but it was not declared on the product's food label. Consumers who are allergic to milk are advised to refrain from consuming the product. The trade should also stop selling it immediately.

Product details are as follows:

Product name: KOH COCONUT Coconut Milk
Importer: Bloomway Group (Far East) Ltd
Place of origin: Thailand
Net Weight: 1 litre per pack
Best before date: September 8, 2016

"Upon learning through its routine Food Incident Surveillance System that several kinds of coconut drinks containing undeclared dairy ingredients had been recalled in Australia and New Zealand, the CFS has taken similar kinds of products from the local market for testing. Result showed that a sample of the aforementioned product taken from a supermarket in Causeway Bay was found to contain milk protein but its presence was not declared in the list of ingredients on the product's food label. The CFS has informed the vendor concerned of the irregularities and instructed it to stop the sale and recall the affected batch of product. The Centre will also follow up on the distribution of the product with the importer concerned and inform the trade to stop selling the product," a spokesman for the CFS said.

For enquiries about the recall, members of the public may call the importer at 6140 2424 during office hours.

The spokesman advised consumers who were allergic to milk to stop consuming the concerned product. People should seek medical treatment if they feel unwell after consuming it.

"People who are allergic to milk may have immunologic response like vomiting, diarrhoea and rash upon consumption of food containing this allergen. In severe cases, anaphylactic shock may even develop. As for other members of the public, generally speaking, they would not be subject to such reactions when the food in question is consumed," the spokesman said.

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 action.

Ends/Friday, October 16, 2015