CFS urges public not to consume batch of frozen buffalo meat from India suspected to contain veterinary drug chloramphenicol

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (August 3) noted that a notification was received from the Macau authorities that a batch of Indian frozen buffalo meat imported from Hong Kong was found to contain a veterinary drug, chloramphenicol. The CFS is following up on the incident. The CFS urges the public not to consume the affected batch of the product and the trade should also stop using or selling the product concerned.

Details of the product are as follows:

Product: Fresh Frozen Meat
Brand: Frigerio
Place of origin: India
Importer: Viewfull International Company Limited
Weight: 20 kilograms (five pieces per carton)
Date of expiry: March-April, 2019

A spokesman for the CFS said, "Upon receipt of a notification from the Macau authorities that the above-mentioned Indian buffalo meat imported from Hong Kong was detected with chloramphenicol, the CFS immediately followed up. Preliminary investigation found that an importer, Viewfull International Company Limited, had imported the affected batch of the product from India. According to the information provided by the importer, a total of 1 400 cartons of the affected product were imported. Among these, 30 cartons were re-exported to Macau while the remaining 1 370 cartons were sold to local distributors."

The importer concerned has initiated a recall according to the CFS' instruction. Members of the public may call the importer's hotline at 3701 1610 during office hours for enquiries about the recall. The CFS is also tracing the distribution of the product concerned, and will alert the trade to the incident and request them to stop using or selling the affected product.

According to the Harmful Substances in Food Regulations (Cap. 132AF), no meat sold in Hong Kong for human consumption is allowed to contain chloramphenicol. Offenders will be prosecuted and will be liable to a fine of $50,000 and to imprisonment for six months upon conviction.

The CFS will inform the Indian authorities, continue to follow up on the case and take appropriate action. Investigation is ongoing.

Ends/Thursday, August 3, 2017