Several kinds of prepackaged puff product may contain undeclared allergen (milk)
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (June 8) said that several kinds of prepackaged puff product manufactured in the United Kingdom might contain an allergen, milk, which was not declared on the products' food label. Consumers who are allergic to milk are advised not to eat the affected products. The trade should also stop using or selling the products concerned immediately should they possess them.
Product details are as follows:
Product name:
Eat Real Quinoa Puffs White Cheddar 113g
Eat Real Quinoa Puffs Jalapeno & Cheddar 113g
Eat Real Quinoa & Kale Puffs White Cheddar 113g
Eat Real Quinoa & Kale Puffs Jalapeno & Cheddar 40g
Eat Real Quinoa Puffs Jalapeno & Cheddar 40g
Eat Real Quinoa & Kale Puffs White Cheddar 40g
Eat Real Quinoa Puffs Mediterranean 40g
Brand: Eat Real
Place of origin: United Kingdom
Importer: Slowood
Best-before date: All best-before dates up to and including end of May 2022
"The CFS, through its Food Incident Surveillance System, noted notices issued by the Food Standards Agency of the UK, the Food Standards Australia New Zealand, and New Zealand's Ministry for Primary Industries that several kinds of puff product (including the above-mentioned products) are under recall because they may contain milk but the ingredient is undeclared on the food label," a spokesman for the CFS said.
Upon learning of the incident, the CFS immediately followed up with major local importers and retailers. A preliminary investigation confirmed that the importer concerned had imported the affected products which were on sale in its retail outlets. The importer has already stopped sale and removed from shelves the affected products and initiated a recall according to the CFS' instructions. Members of the public may call its hotline at 2762 0770 during office hours for enquiries about the recall.
The spokesman advised consumers who are allergic to milk to stop consuming the products concerned. They should seek medical treatment if they feel unwell after consuming them.
"People who are allergic to milk may have immunologic responses like vomiting, diarrhoea and rash upon consumption of food containing this allergen. In severe cases, anaphylactic shock may even develop. As for other members of the public, generally speaking, they would not be subject to such reactions when the food in question is consumed," he said.
The Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) Regulations (Cap. 132W) require that all prepackaged food for sale in Hong Kong should list out the food ingredients in its list of ingredients. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $50,000 and six months' imprisonment.
The CFS will alert the trade, continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action. An investigation is ongoing.
Ends/Tuesday, June 8, 2021