Centre for Food Safety (CFS) received a notification from the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) of the European Commission

Smoked paprika powder

Details of the product are as follows:

Name: La Chinata smoked paprika powder
Best before date : October 2016
Batch no. L-320
Net weight: 70 grams

This batch of La Chinata smoked paprika powder was found to have been contaminated with Salmonella. The Spanish manufacturer concerned has initiated a recall of the product. According to the information provided by the RASFF, a small volume of the affected product has been imported into Hong Kong.

* Updated information on 22 June 2015 On 22 June 2015,
CFS received update from the RASFF that one more local importer had imported 1 can of the affected product. The importer concerned was contacted immediately and it had submitted the affected product to CFS for disposal. No product had been entered into the local market.

The CFS has contacted Fine Wine 33 & Gourmet Limited, the importer concerned in Hong Kong as notified by the RASFF. According to the information of the importer, a total of 745 cans of the affected product have been imported and stored in their warehouse. The Centre has marked and sealed all the stocks and no affected product has entered the market.

The CFS will alert the trade to the incident and instruct them to stop using or selling the affected product immediately should they have imported and still possess the product.

The CFS will continue to follow up the case and take appropriate actions. * Updated information on 22 June 2015

CFS will inform the trade about the update.

CFS will remain vigilant and monitor for any new development and take appropriate actions when necessary.

The trade should stop using or selling the affected products immediately.

Consumers should discard and stop consuming the affected products.

Salmonella infection may cause fever and gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhoea. The effects on infants, young children, the elderly and patients with a weak immune system could be more severe and sometimes may even lead to death.

* Updated information on 22 June 2015
Additional information : http://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/consumer_zone/foodsafety_bh_Salmonella.html

The CFS press release

* Updated information on 22 June 2015: Food Incident Post