The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (June 2) announced that a sample of a bottled fruit juice drink imported from Australia was found to be contaminated with a mycotoxin, patulin, at a level exceeding the action level adopted by the CFS. A follow-up is in progress.
"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," a CFS spokesman said.
Product details are as follows:
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 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. Members of the public may call the importer's hotline at 2606 8658 during office hours for enquiries about the recall. Prosecution will be instituted should there be sufficient evidence.
"Patulin mostly occurs in rotten apple and its products. Animal studies have shown 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," the spokesman said.
According to Section 54 of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap 132), all food for sale in Hong Kong, locally produced or imported, should be fit for human consumption. An offender is subject to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months upon conviction.
The CFS will alert the trade, continue to follow up on the case and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health. An investigation is ongoing.
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