Do not consume a batch of bottled apple juice drink with patulin concentration exceeding legal limit
| Issue Date | 26.3.2026 |
|---|---|
| Source of Information | Routine Food Surveillance Programme of the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) |
| Food Product | Apple juice drink |
| Product Name and Description | Product name: 100% PURE NZ APPLE JUICE Brand: Homegrown Place of origin: New Zealand Importer: The Dairy Farm Company Limited Volume: One litre per bottle Best-before date: May 14, 2026 |
| Reason For Issuing Alert | The CFS collected the above-mentioned sample from a supermarket in Yuen Long for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained a mycotoxin, patulin, at a level of 78 micrograms per kilogram, exceeding the legal limit of 50 micrograms per kilogram of the food. Patulin mostly occurs in rotten apple and its products. Animal studies have shown that ingesting high doses of patulin can induce liver, spleen and kidney damage, as well as toxicity to the immune system. For humans, nausea, gastrointestinal disturbances and vomiting have been reported. |
| Action Taken by the Centre for Food Safety | The CFS has informed the importer concerned of the irregularity. The importer concerned has stopped sale and removed from shelves the affected batch of the product, and initiated a recall according to the CFS's instructions. The CFS will alert the trade, continue to follow up and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health. An investigation is ongoing. |
| Advice to the Trade | Stop using or selling the affected batch of the product immediately if in possession. |
| Advice to Consumers | Not to consume the affected batch of the product. |
| Further Information |
Members of the public may call the importer's hotline at 2299 3966 during office hours for enquiries about the recall. |
Centre for Food Safety
Food and Environmental Hygiene Department
2026-3-26