Fish oil sample of a prepackaged fish oil supplement detected with contaminant benzo[a]pyrene
| Sample name: |
Fish oil in a prepackaged fish oil supplement “PREGNANCY OMEGA-3”
|
| Brand: |
Nutronic |
| Net content: |
60 Softgels |
| Place of origin: |
Canada |
| Best before date: |
End of November 2023 |
| Non-compliant parameter: |
Benzo[a]pyrene |
| Detected level: |
13 micrograms per kilogram (µg/kg) |
| Action level: |
The action level established by the Centre for Food Safety after consulting the Expert Committee on Food Safety is 10 µg/kg |
| Sampling location: |
A retail shop in Tsim Sha Tsui |
| Remarks |
- The Centre for Food Safety has instructed the vendors to stop selling the incriminated batch of the affected product.
- According to Section 54 of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap 132), all food for sale in Hong Kong, locally produced or imported, must be fit for human consumption. An offender is subject to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months upon conviction.
- According to the Section 52 of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap.132), if any person sells to the prejudice of a purchaser any food or drug which is not of the nature, or not of the substance, or not of the quality, of the food or drug demanded by the purchaser, he shall, be guilty of an offence. Offender is liable upon conviction to a fine of $10,000 and imprisonment for three months.
- Based on the level of benzo[a]pyrene detected in the sample, adverse health effects would not be caused under usual consumption.
- The Centre for Food Safety will inform the trade, continue to follow up on the unsatisfactory result, including tracing the source of the food in question and taking sample for testing.
- Investigation is ongoing.
|
END/ Wednesday, November 2, 2022