Centre for Food Safety (CFS)

Preserved bean curd

Details of the product are as follows:

Product name: Doshee Preserved Chili Bean Curd
Place of origin: Taiwan
Weight: 300 grammes per bottle

The sample was collected at a supermarket in Quarry Bay for testing under the CFS' regular Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained Dimethyl yellow.

According to the Colouring Matter in Food Regulations (Cap. 132H), Dimethyl yellow is not permitted to be used in food in Hong Kong.

Although there have been research results showing that Dimethyl yellow might cause cancer in experimental animals, no sufficient evidence has been found to confirm the health effects on humans from dietary intake of this colouring matter. However, for the sake of prudence, retailers should stop selling the affected products and return them to the supplier/importer concerned.

The CFS will inform the vendor concerned of the test result, instruct the vendor to stop the sale of the food concerned, and trace the source and distribution of the food item in question.

The CFS will alert the trade of the incident and inform the Taiwanese authorities of the test result. The Centre will continue to closely monitor the situation and take appropriate actions to safeguard food safety and public health.

The trade should stop selling the affected products immediately.

Consumers should avoid consuming the affected products.

The CFS press release