The Centre for Food Safety (CFS)

Green tea leaves

Product details are as follows:
Product name: Tokan Maruko Yabuk Ta Ban Cha (Green Tea)
Manufacturer: Ochano Maruko Co. Ltd
Place of origin: Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan
Packing size: 400 grams
Best before date: July 29, 2012

The picture shows the green tea leaves product "Tokan Maruko Yabuk Ta Ban Cha (Green Tea)"

A green tea leaves sample, imported from Japan and collected from a local retail outlet during surveillance, was detected with low radioactivity levels, but did not exceed the guideline levels of the Codex Alimentarius Commission

As a precautionary measure, the CFS has contacted the local importer/retailer.

The CFS will closely monitor information from Japan as well as the radiation testing results of Japanese food products in Hong Kong and elsewhere, making reference to the recommendations of international authorities.

The vendor concerned has voluntarily suspended sale, initiated a free exchange of the affected batch of the product, and set up a telephone hotline.

The total internal dose for radioactive substances from consuming the green tea leaves sample for one year is far less than the radiation dose received during a chest X-ray examination and would not pose adverse health effects. But if people are worried, they may choose not to consume the affected batch of the product.

Consumers may enquire about the exchange arrangement by calling the vendor’s telephone hotline during office hours: 2885 0331

Visit the CFS website (www.cfs.gov.hk) for the surveillance results on Japanese food products

The CFS press release