CFS urges public not to consume plasticiser-tainted bottled tartare sauce imported from UK

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (August 18) that a sample of bottled tartare sauce imported from the United Kingdom (UK) was found to contain a plasticiser, Di-isodecyl phthalate (DIDP). The CFS urges the public not to consume the affected batch of the product. The trade should also stop using or selling the affected batch of the product.

Product details are as follows:

Product name: Tartare sauce
Brand name: Stokes
Manufacturer: Stokes Sauces
Place of origin: UK
Net weight: 200 grams
Best before date: July 31, 2016

"The CFS collected the sample at a supermarket in Central for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained DIDP at a level of 380 parts per million (ppm), exceeding the action level of 9ppm adopted by the CFS on related compounds," a CFS spokesman said.

"DIDP is a type of phthalate plasticiser, which is a substance added to materials such as hard plastics to improve their flexibility and durability. Food may contain low levels of these plasticisers due to their migration from food contact materials during processing or packing as well as from environmental contamination. Based on the level of DIDP detected in the unsatisfactory sample, adverse health effects will not be caused under usual consumption," the spokesman said.

The spokesman said that, for the sake of prudence, members of the public who still possess the affected batch of the product should stop consumption of it. The CFS has informed the vendor concerned of the test result and instructed it to immediately remove from shelves and stop sale of the affected batch of the product.

"The CFS will inform the UK authority concerned of the incident and alert the trade. Meanwhile, the CFS is also tracing the source and distribution of the affected product. The CFS will continue to follow up on the case. If any food product is found to be tainted with plasticisers, the CFS will take the necessary follow-up action to safeguard public health," he said.

Ends/Thursday, August 18, 2016