Metallic Contamination exceeds legal limit in a dried Chinese white cabbage sample

Food name:

Dried Chinese White Cabbage

Place of Origin:

China

Metallic contaminant:

Chromium

Best-before date:

1/9/2022
Detected level: After considering the factors for dried foods, the sample contained chromium at a level of 0.654 parts per million
Maximum legal limit: 0.5 parts per million
Sampling location:

A supermarket in To Kwa Wan

Remarks:

  1. The CFS has instructed the trade to stop selling the incriminated batch of the affected product.
  2. According to the Food Adulteration (Metallic Contamination) Regulations (Cap 132V), any person who sells food with metallic contamination above the legal limit may be prosecuted and is liable upon conviction to a fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months.
  3. Based on the level of chromium detected in the sample, adverse health effects would not be caused under usual consumption.
  4. The CFS will continue to follow up on the unsatisfactory result, including tracing the source of the food in question and taking sample for testing so as to safeguard public health.
  5. Investigation is ongoing.

END/ Tuesday November 16, 2021