The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (August 18) urged the public not to consume one kind of ginger root powder imported from India and one kind of coconut drink imported from Italy, because the products were suspected to contain a pesticide, ethylene oxide, which is not authorised by the European Union (EU). The trade should stop using or selling the products concerned immediately if they possess them.
Details of the products are as follows:
Product name: Organic ginger root powder
Brand: Nature's Finest
Place of origin: India
Net weight: 100 grams per can
Best-before date: November 21, 2022
Importer: Tembo Foods Ltd
Product name: Organic coconut drink
Brand: BJORG
Place of origin: Italy
Net volume: 1 litre per pack
Best-before date: January 26, 2022
Importer: Tembo Foods Ltd
A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS received a notification from the importer concerned that it was notified by its suppliers that the above-mentioned products were suspected of containing a pesticide, ethylene oxide, which is not authorised by the EU, and the importer had imported into Hong Kong the affected batches of the products concerned."
Since ethylene oxide is not authorised by the EU, for the sake of prudence, the importer concerned has voluntarily removed the products from shelves, stopped the sale of the affected products and has initiated a recall. Members of the public may call the importer's hotline at 2389 2312 during office hours for enquiries about the recall.
The spokesman urged consumers not to consume the affected products if they have bought any. The trade should also stop using or selling the products concerned immediately if they possess them.
The CFS will alert the trade to the incident, continue to follow up and take appropriate action. An investigation is ongoing.
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