Centre for Food Safety

Prepackaged lobster meat with crab paste

Product name: Lobster Meat with Crab Paste

Country of origin: Korea

Manufacturer: YD Korea

Hong Kong and Macao sole agent (distributor): Kiu Victory Int'l Trading Limited

Net weight: 90 grams per can

Best-before date: October 25, 2021

• The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) collected the above-mentioned sample from a supermarket in Quarry Bay for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained sulphur dioxide. Although the sulphur dioxide level is below the maximum permitted level under the Preservatives in Food Regulation (Cap 132BD), the functional class and name of the additive were not declared on the food label of the sample.
•  Susceptible individuals who are allergic to this preservative may experience breathing difficulties, headaches and nausea after consumption.

• The CFS has informed the vendor concerned of the irregularity and instructed it to stop sale and remove from shelves the affected batch of the product. The distributor concerned has initiated a recall according to the CFS' instructions.  
•  The CFS is tracing the source of the affected product.
• The CFS will alert the trade, continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action. Investigation is ongoing.

• Stop using or selling the affected batch of the product immediately.
• The Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) Regulations (Cap 132W) require that for all prepackaged food for sale in Hong Kong containing sulphite in a concentration of 10 parts per million or more, the functional class of the sulphite and its name shall be specified in the list of ingredients.

• Should not consume the affected batch of the product.
•  Sulphur dioxide is a preservative of low toxicity used in a variety of foods including dried vegetables, dried fruits, pickled vegetables and salted fish products. However, susceptible individuals who are allergic to this preservative may experience breathing difficulties, headaches and nausea after consumption.

The CFS press release

Members of the public may call the distributor's hotline at 2656 1298 during office hours for enquiries about the recall.