Food Surveillance Programme of the Centre for Food Safety (CFS)

Prepackaged rice vermicelli

Product name: Hsin Tung Yang Rice Noodles

Brand: Hsin Tung Yang

Place of origin: Taiwan

Distributor: B&S Company

Net weight: 300 grams

Best-before date: April 10, 2029

• The CFS collected the above-mentioned sample from an online vendor for testing under its Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained formaldehyde at a level of 12 parts per million.

• The CFS has informed the vendor and the distributor concerned of the irregularity, and instructed the distributor concerned to immediately stop sales, remove from shelves, and initiate a recall of the affected batch of the product.
• The CFS' follow-up investigation found that the distributor concerned stored about 450 cartons of the affected batch of the product in its warehouse. The CFS has immediately marked and sealed the products concerned.
• The CFS has also enhanced formaldehyde testing at the import and retail levels, and has recently collected over 70 food samples, including Chinese white cabbages, vegetables and rice vermicelli, for testing of formaldehyde content. Except for the rice vermicelli sample detected with formaldehyde, no other unsatisfactory testing results have been found so far.

• Stop using or selling the affected batch of the product immediately if in possession.
• Be cautious about the origins from which the food products are sourced, and should only obtain them from reliable sources.

• Not to consume the affected batch of the product concerned.
• To patronise reliable restaurants and food retailers. As formaldehyde is water-soluble and highly volatile, washing and cooking food ingredients thoroughly before consumption can reduce the relevant risk. 

The CFS press release

Members of the public may call the distributor's hotline at 3628 7800 during office hours for enquiries about the recall.