Two preserved vegetable samples detected with excessive preservatives
| Issue Date | 15.9.2015 |
|---|---|
| Source of Information | The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) |
| Food Product | Preserved leaf mustard and Preserved mustard |
| Product Name and Description | (1) Product name: Preserved leaf mustard
|
| Reason For Issuing Alert | The CFS collected the above-mentioned prepackaged preserved leaf mustard sample and preserved mustard sample from AEON Supermarket at Wo Che Estate in Sha Tin and Kai Bo Food Supermarket at Yee Kuk Street in Sham Shui Po respectively for testing under its regular Food Surveillance Programme. The test results showed that the preserved leaf mustard sample contained sulphur dioxide at a level of 330ppm and the preserved mustard sample contained benzoic acid at a level of 7,100ppm, exceeding their legal limits of 100ppm and 2,000ppm respectively. |
| Action Taken by the Centre for Food Safety | The CFS has informed the vendors concerned of the irregularities and instructing them to stop selling and remove from shelves the affected products. Prosecution will be initiated should there be sufficient evidence. The CFS is also tracing the sources and distribution of the affected products.
The CFS will continue to follow up on the cases and take appropriate actions. |
| Advice to the Trade | The trade should stop using or selling the product concerned immediately and remove from shelves the affected products. |
| Advice to Consumers | Consumers to seek medical consultation if they feel unwell after consuming the food.
The public should buy food from reliable suppliers, and maintain a balanced diet so as to avoid excessive intake of certain harmful substances as a result of frequent consumption of a small range of food items. |
| Further Information |
Centre for Food Safety
Food and Environmental Hygiene Department
2015-9-15