Antibiotic (metronidazole) found in honey sample
Issue Date |
29.6.2021 |
Source of Information |
Centre for Food Safety (CFS) |
Food Product |
Bottled honey |
Product Name and Description |
Product: Winter Honey
Brand: Select
Distributor: PARKnSHOP (HK) Limited
Net weight: 1 kilogram per bottle
Best-before date: January 10, 2023 |
Reason For Issuing Alert |
- The CFS collected the above-mentioned honey sample from a supermarket in Yuen Long for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained metronidazole at a level of 3.3 micrograms per kg.
- According to the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), residues of metronidazole or its metabolites may cause significant health concerns, and competent authorities should prevent residues of metronidazole in food.
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Action Taken by the Centre for Food Safety |
- The CFS has notified the vendor concerned of the test result and instructed it to stop selling the affected batch of the product. The distributor concerned has also initiated a recall on the affected batch of the product according to the CFS's instruction.
- The CFS is tracing the source and distribution of the food in question. Prosecution will be instituted should there be sufficient evidence.
- The CFS will alert the trade, continue to follow up on the case and take appropriate action. An investigation is ongoing.
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Advice to the Trade |
Stop using or selling the products concerned immediately if they possess them. |
Advice to Consumers |
Members of the public may call its hotline at 2606 8658 during office hours for enquiries about the recall of the product. |
Further Information |
The CFS press release |
Centre for Food Safety
Food and Environmental Hygiene Department
2021-6-29