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Excessive metallic contaminant found in potato sample

  • 2017.06.14

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (June 14) announced that a potato sample imported from Japan was detected with cadmium, a metallic contaminant, at a level exceeding the legal limit. The CFS is following up on the case.

"The CFS collected the above-mentioned sample at a supermarket in Lam Tin for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained cadmium at a level of 0.18 parts per million (ppm), exceeding the legal limit of 0.1ppm."

The CFS has informed the vendor concerned of the irregularity and instructed it to stop sale of the affected batch of the product.

According to the Food Adulteration (Metallic Contamination) Regulations (Cap 132V), any person who sells food with metallic contamination above the legal limit is liable upon conviction to a fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months.

"Based on the level of cadmium detected in the sample, adverse health effects will not be caused under usual consumption," the spokesman said.

The CFS will continue to follow up on the case and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health. Investigation is ongoing.

Reprinted from HKSAR Government:

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201706/14/P2017061400866.htm