CFS urges public not to consume sesame oil from Italy with possible presence of ethylene oxide

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (January 29) urged the public not to consume a kind of sesame oil imported from Italy because the product concerned was found with a pesticide, ethylene oxide, which is not authorised by the European Union (EU). The trade should stop using or selling the product concerned immediately if they possess it.

​Details of the product are as follows:

Product name: Organic sesame seed oil
Brand: Crudigno
Place of origin: Italy
Net weight: 250 millilitres per bottle
Importer: YES NATURAL INTERNATIONAL LTD
Best-before date: August 27, 2021

A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS received a notification from the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) of the European Commission that the above-mentioned product was found with a substance, ethylene oxide, not authorised by the EU and is being recalled. According to the information provided by the RASFF, the affected product has been imported into Hong Kong. Upon learning of the incident, the CFS immediately contacted the local importer concerned for follow-up."

A preliminary investigation found that the importer YES NATURAL INTERNATIONAL LTD had imported some of the affected product into Hong Kong. Since ethylene oxide is not authorised by the EU, for the sake of prudence, the importer has removed the product from shelves, has stopped the sale of the affected product upon the CFS' advice and has initiated a recall. Enquiries about the recall can be made to the hotline of the importer at 2786 0727 during office hours.

The spokesman urged consumers not to consume the affected product if they have bought any. The trade should also stop using or selling the product concerned immediately if they possess it.

The CFS will alert the trade to the incident, continue to follow up and take appropriate action. An investigation is ongoing.
 
Ends/Friday, January 29, 2021