CFS urges public not to consume several products with possible presence of ethylene oxide

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (August 4) urged the public not to consume two kinds of beverages imported from Italy, because the locust bean gum used in the products was found with a pesticide, ethylene oxide, which is not authorised by the European Union (EU). The trade should stop using or selling the products concerned immediately if they possess them.
     
Details of the products are as follows:
 
Product name: Orasi Hazelnut
Brand: Orasi
Place of origin: Italy
Net weight: 1 litre per pack
Best-before date: April 26, 2022
Importer: Unigra' S.R.L. (telephone hotline: 2811 8395)
 
Product name: Orasi Walnut
Brand: Orasi
Place of origin: Italy
Net weight: 1 litre per pack
Best-before date: June 7, 2022
Importer: Unigra' S.R.L. (telephone hotline: 2811 8395)
 
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 locust bean gum used in the above-mentioned products was found with a pesticide, ethylene oxide, which is not authorised by the EU. According to the information provided by the RASFF, the affected products have been imported into Hong Kong. Upon learning of the incident, the CFS immediately contacted the local importer concerned for follow-up. Preliminary investigation found that the above-mentioned importer had imported into Hong Kong the affected batches of the products concerned."
     
Furthermore, the CFS, upon following up on a stabiliser imported from France with the possible presence of ethylene oxide announced earlier on, was notified that the affected stabiliser has been used in a kind of locally produced prepackaged ice cream with various flavours, and urged the public not to consume it. Details of the products are as follows:
 
Product names:
(1) Blueberry no added sugar ice cream
(2) Earl Grey no added sugar ice cream
(3) Dark Chocolate no added sugar ice cream
Brand: Wow Zero
Net volume: 100 millilitres per cup (for all flavours)
Best-before dates:
(1) May 27, 2022, and June 18, 2022
(2) May 27, 2022, and June 17, 2022
(3) May 28, 2022, and June 29, 2022
Distributor: Wealthy Making Limited (telephone hotline: 9086 8757)
 
Since ethylene oxide is not authorised by the EU, for the sake of prudence, the above-mentioned importer and distributor have removed the products from shelves and stopped the sale of the affected products upon the CFS' instructions and have initiated recalls. Members of the public may call the relevant importer and distributor hotlines mentioned above during office hours for enquiries about the recalls.
     
The spokesman urged consumers not to consume the affected products if they have bought any. The trade should also stop using or selling the products concerned immediately if they possess them.
     
The CFS will alert the trade to the incident, and will continue to follow up and take appropriate action. Investigation is ongoing.
 
Ends/Wednesday, August 4, 2021