Metallic contaminant exceeds legal limit in prepacked dried procini sample

Background:

The Centre for Food Safety of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department received a notification from the Department of Food Safety of the Macao Municipal Affairs Bureau, that a batch of prepacked dried procini imported via Hong Kong was found to contain mercury, not complying with the standard of Macau. The Centre for Food Safety therefore immediately contacted the local importer concerned for follow-up. According to the information provided by the importer, the affected batch of product was available for sale in Hong Kong.
Product name:

Imperial Banquet Dried Procini
Brand:

Imperial Banquet
Place of origin:

Mainland China
Importer:

PARKnSHOP (HK) Limited
Net weight:

65 grams
Best-before date:

August 20, 2024
Metallic contaminant: Mercury
Detected level:

0.207 mg/kg (after applying the conversion factor of dried food)
Maximum permitted level:

0.1 mg/kg
Source of information:

The Department of Food Safety of the Macau Municipal Affairs Bureau
Remarks:

  1. The Centre for Food Safety has instructed the importer 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 mercury detected in the sample, adverse health effects would not be caused under usual consumption.

  4. The Centre for Food Safety will inform the trade, continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action. Investigation is ongoing.

END/ Friday, December 22, 2023