Latest news with #CentreforFoodSafety
RTHK
4 days ago
- Health
- RTHK
HK shops remove Haribo gummies after cannabis found
HK shops remove Haribo gummies after cannabis found The Centre for Food Safety says it will inspect the Haribo gummies. Photo courtesy of Haribo The government has advised Hong Kong shops to remove Haribo gummy products from their shelves, after traces of cannabis were found in the firm's cola-flavoured gummies in the Netherlands. Dutch authorities had earlier told the public that consuming the brand's Happy Cola F!ZZ may lead to symptoms such as dizziness. The Centre for Food Safety said on Sunday that though it has not received any such reports, the authorities will inspect these products. "For prudence sake, the trade [is] advised to [take] off shelf all the the relevant brand temporarily," it wrote.
HKFP
23-04-2025
- HKFP
5 gov't health inspectors accused of stealing food meant for tests were told to toss unused samples, court hears
Five government health inspectors accused of stealing food meant for radiation tests were warned not to keep unused samples, a court has heard. Chan Ying-shan, Lam Hiu-kwan, Yu Fung-chun, Lee Chun-hei, and Lau Shing-hin, who worked for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department's Centre for Food Safety, appeared at West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts on Tuesday for the first day of the trial. Four pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to steal. Separately, Lau pleaded guilty to an alternative charge of stealing and is acting as a prosecution witness. Presided over by Magistrate Edward Wong, the trial began about 10 months after the five inspectors were charged with conspiring to steal food – including canned abalone, white truffle sauce, and crab bisque – ordered for conducting radiation tests. According to an Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) statement published when they were charged in June last year, the five health inspectors bought food samples worth around HK$88,000 for radiation tests in mid-2022 and early 2023. A total of 82 food samples were subsequently found at their homes, the ICAC said. On Tuesday, the court heard that Lam had the most food, with 25 food samples found at her home. The food included opened risotto, pasta, and Japanese rice packages, according to The Witness. Lo Chi-ming, a chief health inspector who was testifying for the prosecution, said the proper way to handle untested food samples was to sprinkle a type of powder on the samples to make them go bad before disposal. Staff should also make a record of the time, date, and place of disposal, Lo said. Senior health inspector Lau Hau-kwan – who was the five defendants' supervisor, testified to the court that she had briefed them on the proper handling procedures for food samples. The trial, which is expected to take six days, continued on Wednesday. Under Hong Kong's Theft Ordinance, stealing and conspiring to steal are punishable by up to 10 years in jail, although the maximum sentence meted out at magistrate courts is two years.
RTHK
21-04-2025
- Health
- RTHK
Doctor backs plan to ban konjac from mini jelly cups
Doctor backs plan to ban konjac from mini jelly cups Family doctor Lam Wing-wo says konjac does not dissolve in water quickly, and could deprive people of oxygen when it is stuck in the airway. Photo: RTHK A family doctor has voiced support over a government proposal to ban konjac from mini jelly cups, saying it would reduce the risk of choking among children. Konjac is a chewy substance which is added to desserts or used as a thickener. According to the Centre for Food Safety (CFS), the ingredient's choking risk is exacerbated when served in mouth-sized jelly cups, which are often slurped. Last year, a coroner suggested a ban of the product, after hearing the case of a girl who choked to death while consuming the confectionary at school. The CFS now proposes banning konjac from containers less than 4.5cm in length or width. All other prepackaged konjac-containing jellies not covered by this rule must also come with a label, warning consumers of the choking risk. Speaking on an RTHK programme on Monday, doctor Lam Wing-wo sided with the proposals. "I think this is a good direction. The proposals can help prevent such tragic incidents,' he said. 'But I think the most important part is to educate parents. Some parents think konjac is very attractive, or it contains dietary fibre, but for children, the nutrition value of konjac is very low." Lam explained how konjac leads to choking. "Konjac does not dissolve in water quickly. So when you eat it and you are unaware that it blocked your throat, it will almost immediately block the airway and lead to lack of oxygen," he said. Lawmakers will discuss the proposal on Thursday. The ban will take effect six months after the amendments to the Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) Regulations are passed, with the labelling rule to follow half a year later.
South China Morning Post
24-02-2025
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Hongkongers urged to avoid eating French raw milk cheese amid E coli concerns
Hongkongers should avoid eating a French raw milk cheese product by Perrin Vermot found to be contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing E coli bacteria , the food safety watchdog has said. Advertisement The Centre for Food Safety issued a recall notice on Sunday night for a batch of Morbier Jean Perrin 1/4 x 2 imported from France with a best-before date of March 15. The centre said it contacted local importer Chef's Garden before the European Commission alerted it about the product recall in France and other countries due to the contamination. Chef's Garden imported eight cheese wheels weighing 13.7kg (30lbs) in total, which were distributed to retailer Feather & Bone in Hong Kong. It added the importer immediately stopped the sale, ditched the unsold products and initiated a product recall. 'People will contract [Shiga toxin-producing E coli gastrointestinal infection] through the consumption of contaminated water or undercooked and contaminated foods,' a spokesman for the centre said. Advertisement 'Intestinal bleeding and serious complications such as haemolytic uraemic syndrome may also develop in some people.'
