The Centre for Food Safety

Egg

Product name: Cheer Fresh Dutch Brown Eggs
code: 2-NL 4378101
Best before date: November 6, 2017

• Upon learning a notice issued by the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) that certain eggs produced in the Netherlands were detected to contain a pesticide, fipronil, at levels which might cause adverse health effects and consumption of the affected eggs were not advised, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) has been closely following up on the incident and monitoring its latest development. It has also contacted major local importers and conducted inspections on major retail outlets.
• According to information and egg codes of the eggs concerned published by the Dutch authorities, investigation by the CFS showed that the affected batches of the product not fit for consumption as advised by the Dutch authorities have not been imported into Hong Kong. For the sake of prudence, the CFS has collected two samples of Dutch eggs of a different batch at retail level for testing. The test results showed that the two samples contained fipronil at levels of 0.064 parts per million (ppm) and 0.055 ppm, respectively, exceeding the maximum residue limit of 0.02 ppm as stipulated in local legislation.

• The CFS has informed the vendors concerned of the irregularities and requested the trade to stop sale and remove from shelves the above-mentioned batch of the product immediately. The CFS has also instructed the importer, Dah Chong Hong Limited, to initiate a recall.
• The CFS has taken a precautionary measure with effect from today that all eggs imported from the Netherlands will be held for testing and will only be released to the market for sale upon satisfactory test results.
• The CFS will maintain close liaison with the Dutch authorities concerned and the trade, and will take appropriate follow-up action with regard to the latest developments of the incident.

• Stop using or selling the products concerned.

• Based on the levels of pesticide residue detected in the samples, adverse health effect will not be caused under usual consumption. However, for the sake of prudence, members of the public who have bought the affected batch of the product should stop consuming it.

The CFS press release

• Members of the public can call the hotline of the importer, Dah Chong Hong Limited, at 2768 3232 during office hours for enquiries about the recall.