Metallic contaminant exceeds legal limit in a prepackaged dried lily bulb sample

Food name:

頂級百合 (Not available in English)
Brand:

香港啟泰 (Not available in English)
Net weight:

200 grams
Best-before date:

January 01, 2025
Metallic contaminant: Cadmium
Detected level:

After considering the factor for dried food, the sample contained cadmium at a level of 0.53 parts per million.
Maximum level of metal:

0.05 parts per million
Sampling location:

A supermarket in Tsuen Wan
Remarks:

  1. The Centre for Food Safety has instructed the vendors to stop selling the incriminated batch of the affected product.

  2. According to the Food Adulteration (Metallic Contamination) Regulations (Cap 132V), any person who sells food with metallic contamination above the legal limit may be prosecuted and is liable upon conviction to a fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months.

  3. Based on the level of Cadmium detected in the samples, adverse health effects would not be caused under usual consumption.

  4. The Centre for Food Safety will inform the trade, continue to follow up on the unsatisfactory result, including tracing the source of the affected product.   Prosecution will be instituted should there be sufficient evidence.

  5. Investigation is ongoing.

END/ Thursday, November 16, 2023