The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) today (December 3) called on the public not to consume milk products which were suspected to have been contaminated with certain chemicals.
The CFS earlier received notification from the Centre for Health Protection about two cases of people feeling sick after consuming milk products produced by Trappist Dairy Limited and several complaints from the public. Samples of the milk products concerned were then collected from the complainants and relevant retail outlets for testing.
Details of the affected products are as follows:
Product name: Trappist Dairy Hi-Calcium Low Fat Milk Drink Product size: 236ml Use by date: 4.12.2011 Product name: Trappist Dairy Fresh Milk Product size: 236ml Use by date: 6.12.2011 Product name: Trappist Dairy Fresh Milk Product size: 946ml Use by date: 6.12.2011
Laboratory results showed that five of the samples contained toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes with the highest detected level reaching 1.2 mg/kg, 1.0 mg/kg and 5.0 mg/kg respectively.
A CFS spokesman said, "Dietary exposure estimation showed that consumption of the samples would not exceed the tolerable daily intake levels established by the World Health Organization for drinking-water quality for toluene (0.223 mg/kg), ethylbenzene (0.0971 mg/kg) and xylenes (0.179 mg/kg), indicating that adverse health effects are unlikely. However, since such chemicals should not exist in these milk products, the CFS has instructed the manufacturer concerned to immediately stop sale of and recall all of their paper pack milk products of different flavours and pack sizes in the market."
The company is in the meantime recalling the products. Members of the public can call the company's hotline: 2471 9861 for enquiries.
The spokesman said, "The affected products were on sale at various retail outlets. Members of the public who have bought these products should not consume them and should seek medical advice if they have doubts."
"We have alerted the trade to stop sale of those batches of products and are closely monitoring the recall arrangements. We will also continue to follow up on the case," he added.
(Reprinted from HKSAR Government web page
http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201112/12/P201112120492.htm )