Routine Surveillance Programme of the Centre for Food Safety

A bottled apple juice drink imported from Australia

Product name: Cold Pressed Granny Smith Apple

Brand: Presha Fruit

Country of origin: Australia

Importer/Distributor: A.S. Watson Group (HK) Ltd. Volume: 350ml per bottle

Best-before date: August 7, 2020

 *Updated on 2 June 2020

Product name: Cold Pressed Apple & Raspberry

Brand: Presha Fruit

Country of origin: Australia

Importer/Distributor: PARKnSHOP (HK) Limited

Volume: 350ml per bottle

Best-before date: September 17, 2020

• The test result showed that a sample collected from a supermarket in To Kwa Wan contained patulin at a level of 110 parts per billion (ppb), exceeding the action level of 50 ppb adopted by the CFS. The action level is the same as the standard of the Codex Alimentarius Commission on patulin in apple or apple juice.
• Patulin mostly occurs in rotten apple and its products. Animal studies showed that ingesting high doses of patulin can induce liver, spleen and kidney damage, as well as toxicity to the immune system. For humans, nausea, gastrointestinal disturbances and vomiting have been reported.

*Updated on 2 June 2020

• Subsequent to announcing earlier that a sample of a bottled apple juice drink was found to be contaminated with patulin, the CFS detected patulin at a level of 120 parts per billion (ppb) in another sample of a different kind of bottled fruit juice drink of the same brand taken from the market during follow-up investigations. The test result exceeded the action level of 50 ppb adopted by the CFS which is the same as the standard of the Codex Alimentarius Commission on patulin in apple juice.

• CFS has informed the importer, PARKnSHOP (HK) Limited and distributor concerned of the irregularity. The importer and distributor have stopped sale and removed from shelves all batches of the affected product and initiated a recall of the affected batch of the product according to the CFS' instruction.
• The CFS will alert the trade, continue to follow up on the case and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health. Investigation is ongoing.

*Updated on 2 June 2020

•  The CFS has informed the importer/distributor concerned of the irregularity. The importer/distributor has stopped sale and removed from shelves the affected batch of the product, and initiated a recall according to the CFS' instructions.

• Stop using or selling the affected products immediately if they possess them.

• Not to consume the affected products.

The CFS press release (29 May 2020)

The CFS press release (2 Jun 2020)

Members of the public may call the importer's/distributor's hotline at 2606 8658 for enquiries about the recall during office hours.