Centre for Food Safety (CFS)

Dried mushroom

1. Product name: Wai Yuen Tong dried mushroom
Place of origin: China
Best before: February 6, 2016
Net weight: 375 grams

2. Product name: First Edible Nest dried mushroom
Place of origin: China
Best before: January 1, 2016
Net weight: 605g

The dried mushroom samples were collected at a shop in Quarry Bay for testing under the CFS' regular Food Surveillance Programme. Test result showed that the Wai Yuen Tong sample and the First Edible Nest sample contained cadmium at levels of 1.7 parts per million (ppm) and 1.4 ppm respectively. After applying the conversion factors for dried foods as recommended by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, the reported cadmium levels for the two samples were 0.15 and 0.13 respectively, still exceeding the legal limit of 0.1 ppm.

Based on the levels of cadmium detected in the samples, adverse health effects will not be caused by normal consumption.

The CFS will inform the vendors concerned of the test results, instruct the vendors to stop the sale of the affected batches of the products at all their retail outlets, and trace the source and distribution of the food items in question.

The CFS will inform the Mainland authorities and the local trade, continue to investigate and take appropriate actions to safeguard food safety and public health.

The trade should stop selling the affected batches of products immediately.

If consumers have bought and still possess the affected batches of the products, they should stop eating it.

Medical advice should be sought if they feel sick upon consumption.

The CFS press release