Stop sale and consumption of a plasticiser-tainted dietary supplement imported from US

Issue Date 14.7.2011
Source of Information

Centre for Food Safety (CFS)
Food Product

Dietary supplement
Product Name and Description

Brand name and food name: Doctor's Choice – Evening Primrose Oil
Manufacturer: Captek Softgel Int'l Inc
Place of origin: the United States
Packaging: 40 Softgels
Use by date: July 28, 2013
Batch No: OEO82OA
Reason For Issuing Alert

The concerned product was found to contain plasticisers, di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and di-butyl phthalate (DBP). Plasticisers have been found to cause damages to liver, kidney, reproduction and development when given to animals in large doses.
Action Taken by the Centre for Food Safety

The CFS has instructed the sole importer, Vita Green Health Products Co, Ltd, to immediately stop the sale and initiate recall of the relevant batch of the product.

The CFS will take samples of similar products of the same brand for testing and conduct checks at retail outlets to see if the affected batch is available for sale.

The CFS will inform the US authority of the test results, continue its investigations and follow-up work, and closely monitor the recall arrangements.
Advice to the Trade

Stop selling the affected product.
Advice to Consumers

Stop consuming the affected product.
Further Information

The CFS press release

CFS Website: Plasticisers in food

For enquiries about the product and recall arrangements, please call the consumer hotline set up by the importer during office hours (Tel: 2901 6000).

Centre for Food Safety
Food and Environmental Hygiene Department
2011-7-14

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