French alcoholic beverages contain high level of ethyl carbamate

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (November 10) urged the public not to consume a batch of alcoholic beverages produced in France as the product contains a high level of ethyl carbamate. The trade should also stop using or selling the affected product immediately.

Product details are as follows:

Product name: Steinobstbrand - Kirsch
Place of origin: France
Manufacturer: Distillerie Paul Devoille
Packing size: (i) 500 ml per bottle and (ii) 700 ml per bottle
Lot no: L1400720

"The Centre received a notification from the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) of the European Commission that the above-mentioned batch of alcoholic beverages was found to contain ethyl carbamate at a level of 11.4 milligrams per litre. According to the information provided by the RASFF, the German wholesaler concerned has initiated a recall of the affected product and a small volume of the affected product has been imported into Hong Kong," a spokesman for the CFS said.

The CFS has contacted the importer concerned in Hong Kong as indicated in the notification of the RASFF, and learnt that the products concerned were still kept in its warehouse and did not enter the market. The CFS will alert the trade to the incident. The trade should stop using or selling the affected product immediately should they have imported and still possess them.

Ethyl carbamate is a contaminant naturally formed in fermented foods and alcoholic beverages during the fermentation process or during storage. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified ethyl carbamate as Group 2A, i.e. probably carcinogenic to humans.

The spokesman urged members of the public who had bought the affected product to immediately stop consumption.

The CFS will continue to follow up on the case and take appropriate action.

Ends/Tuesday, November 10, 2015