Metallic contaminant exceeds legal limit in four prepackaged dried porcini samples

Food name:
  1. DRIED PORCINI MUSHROOMS
  2. DRIED FUNGHI PORCINI
  3. PREMIUM WILD PORCINI
  4. DRIED AND SLICED PORCINI MUSHROOMS
Brand:
  1. GOURMET LINE
  2. BORDE
  3. CANBEST
  4. WAITROSE & PARTNERS
Place of origin:
  1. ITALY
  2. FRANCE
  3. Packed in Hong Kong
  4. FRANCE
Net weight:
  1. 40 grams
  2. 40 grams
  3. 80 grams
  4. 30 grams
Best-before date:
  1. April 11, 2024
  2. December 31, 2025
  3. December 30, 2024
  4. December 28, 2024
Metallic contaminant: Mercury
Detected level:
  1. After considering the factors for dried foods, the sample contained mercury at a level of 0.27 parts per million.
  2. After considering the factors for dried foods, the sample contained mercury at a level of 0.36 parts per million.

  3. After considering the factors for dried foods, the sample contained mercury at a level of 0.34 parts per million.

  4. After considering the factors for dried foods, the sample contained mercury at a level of 0.22 parts per million.
Maximum level of metal: 0.1 parts per million
Sampling location:
  1. A supermarket in Causeway Bay
  2. A supermarket in Causeway Bay
  3. A department store in Jordan
  4. A supermarket in Admiralty
Remarks:

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

  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 Mercury detected in the sample, 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 results, including tracing the source of the affected products and taking samples for testing.

  5. Investigation is ongoing.

END/ Friday, January 12, 2024