Call to stop consuming puffer fish maws containing tetrodotoxin
| Issue Date | 2.3.2016 |
|---|---|
| Source of Information | Centre for Food Safety (CFS) |
| Food Product | Two kinds of prepackaged puffer fish maw |
| Product Name and Description | (1) Product name: Puffer fish maw (English name not available) |
| Reason For Issuing Alert | Following up on a food related enquiry, the CFS collected the two aforesaid puffer fish maw samples from the retail outlets of the distributor concerned in Tin Shui Wai and Yuen Long for testing. The test results showed that both samples contained tetrodotoxin. |
| Action Taken by the Centre for Food Safety | The CFS has instructed the distributor and supplier to stop the sale of and remove from shelves the affected products of all batches, and initiate a recall of the products. Information provided by the distributor showed that the affected products were purchased from another supplier Lam Kee Seafood Products Company Limited. The affected products were also sold by retail by the supplier concerned. The CFS will alert the trade to the incident, and continue to trace the distribution and source of the affected food items. Investigation is still ongoing. |
| Advice to the Trade | Stop using or selling the affected products. |
| Advice to Consumers | Not to consume the affected products. If symptoms develop after consuming the food, consumers should seek medical advice as early as possible. For enquiries about the recall, members of the public may call the hotlines of Max Choice Corporation Limited at 3976 3888 or Lam Kee Seafood Products Company Limited at 2851 4020 during office hours. |
| Further Information |
Centre for Food Safety
Food and Environmental Hygiene Department
2016-3-2