Six kinds of glass-bottled tea from US Sweet Leaf Tea may contain small glass fragments

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (December 11) urged the public not to consume different batches of six kinds of 16-ounce tea in glass bottles from the US brand of Sweet Leaf Tea as they may contain glass fragments. The trade should also stop selling the products concerned.

"The CFS, through its routine Food Incident Surveillance System, learned that the US authorities has issued a notice that the manufacturer of Sweet Leaf Tea is voluntarily recalling the 16-ounce tea in glass bottles as the products may contain glass fragments," a spokesman for the CFS said.

Details of affected products are as follows:

(1) Product name: Sweet Leaf Tea Raspberry
Manufacture code and best before date: 022615057WC402 (June 30, 2016)
042315113WC402 (August 31, 2016)
042415114WC402 (August 31, 2016)
060415155WC402 (October 31, 2016)

(2) Product name: Sweet Leaf Half and Half Lemonade Tea
Manufacture code and best before date: 022715058WC402 (June 30, 2016)
042315113WC402 (August 31, 2016)
060315154WC402 (October 31, 2016)

(3) Product name: Sweet Leaf Tea Original
Manufacture code and best before date: 022615057WC402 (June 30, 2016)
042514115WC402 (August 31, 2016)
042415114WC402 (August 31, 2016)
060315154WC402 (October 31, 2016)

(4) Product name: Sweet Leaf Tea Green Tea w/Citrus
Manufacture code and best before date: 022715058WC402 (June 30, 2016)
042415114WC402 (August 31, 2016)
060415155WC402 (October 31, 2016)

(5) Product name: Sweet Leaf Tea Peach
Manufacture code and best before date: 022615057WC402 (June 30, 2016)
042315113WC402 (August 31, 2016)
060415155WC402 (October 31, 2016)

(6) Product name: Sweet Leaf Tea Mint & Honey
Manufacture code and best before date: 022715058WC402 (June 30, 2016)
042415114WC402 (August 31, 2016)
060415155WC402 (October 31, 2016)

The spokesman said upon learning of the incident, the CFS immediately liaised with local major retailers and importers and has so far found that PARKnSHOP (HK) Limited has imported five kinds of the affected products (except Sweet Leaf Tea Green Tea w/Citrus). The supermarket chain concerned has stopped sale and removed from shelves the affected products and initiated a recall as well. Members of the public may call the company's hotline at 2606 8658 during office hours for enquiries about the recall. CFS staff have also inspected major retail outlets and found no affected products available for sale so far.

"The CFS has liaised with the US authorities and will alert the trade to the incident," he said.

The CFS will continue to closely monitor the case and take appropriate follow-up action. Investigation is ongoing.

Ends/Friday, December 11, 2015