CFS urges public not to consume batch of imported pistachio cream product suspected to be contaminated with aflatoxin

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (December 17) urged the public not to consume a batch of prepackaged pistachio cream product imported from Germany due to possible contamination with aflatoxin. The trade should stop using or selling the affected batch of the product immediately if they possess it.

​Product details are as follows:

Product name: Pistacchio Kerman Paste
Brand: Cresco Italia
Place of origin: Germany
Net weight: Three kilograms
Use-by date: December 31, 2025
Batch number: 204759065-01
Importer: JJ Global Sourcing Limited

A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS received a notification from the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed of the European Commission, the above-mentioned product is being recalled as it contained aflatoxin B1 exceeding the EU's standard. Upon learning of the incident, the CFS immediately contacted local importers for follow-up and a preliminary investigation found that the above-mentioned importer had imported into Hong Kong the affected batch of the product. The aflatoxin level of the product also exceeded the local legal standard."

The importer has stopped selling and removed from shelves the affected batch of the product upon the CFS's instructions and has initiated a recall. Members of the public may call the hotline of the importer concerned at 2190 2125 during office hours for enquiries about the recall.

The World Health Organization (WHO)'s International Agency for Research on Cancer classified naturally occurring aflatoxins as carcinogenic to humans, and the Joint Food and Agriculture Organization/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives advised that intake of aflatoxins should be reduced to levels as low as reasonably possible although no health-based guidance value has been set. Aflatoxins can lead to liver cancer after long-term ingestion, and the risk for hepatitis B carriers is relatively high.

The CFS will alert the trade to the incident, and will continue to follow up and take appropriate action. The investigation is ongoing.

Ends/Tuesday, December 17, 2024
Issued at HKT 20:05