| Issue Date | 12.10.2023 |
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| Source of Information | Centre for Food Safety (CFS) |
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| Food Product | Prepackaged white pepper powder |
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| Product Name and Description | Product name: Organic WHITE PEPPER POWDER
Brand: Passion by Mama
Place of origin: India
Net weight: 55 grams per bottle
Retailer: Healthy Express
Best-before date: June 28, 2023 |
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| Reason For Issuing Alert | - Subsequent to announcing earlier that a sample of white pepper powder taken from a retail outlet in Tsuen Wan was found to contain a pesticide, ethylene oxide, the CFS detected a similar irregularity in another batch of white pepper powder sample taken from the same retail outlet for testing during follow-up investigations.The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified ethylene oxide as a Group 1 carcinogen.
- According to the Pesticide Residues in Food Regulation (Cap. 132CM), a food for human consumption containing pesticide residue may only be sold if consumption of the food is not dangerous or prejudicial to health.
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| Action Taken by the Centre for Food Safety | - According to the CFS's instructions, the retailer concerned has initiated a recall on the affected batch of the product.
- The CFS has alerted the trade to the incident, will continue to follow up and take appropriate action. An investigation is ongoing.
- Prosecution will be instituted should there be sufficient evidence.
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| Advice to the Trade | Stop using or selling the affected batch of the product immediately if they possess it. |
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| Advice to Consumers | Not to consume the affected batch of the product if they have bought it. |
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| Further Information | The CFS press release Members of the public may call its hotline at 3565 1770/9555 5280 during office hours for enquiries about the recall of the product concerned. (Photograph for reference only)
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Reposted from HKSAR Government webpage:
https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/whatsnew/whatsnew_fa/2023_532.html
