The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (October 6) that a sample of prepackaged bamboo shoot was found to contain sulphur dioxide, a preservative which is allowed to be used in certain foods, but the functional class and the name of the additive were not declared on the food label. Members of the public should not consume the affected batch of the product. The trade should also stop using or selling the affected batch of the product immediately if they possess it. Product details are as follows: Product name: Baby Bamboo ShootsBrand: Unionsum FoodNet weight: 250 gramsPlace of origin: ChinaSole distributor: Unionsum Food CompanyRetailer: HKTV MallBest-before date: August 2, 2027 "The CFS collected the above-mentioned sample from an online shop for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained sulphur dioxide. Although the sulphur dioxide level detected is within the legal limit, the functional class and the name of the additive were not declared on the food label of the sample," a spokesman for the CFS said. "The CFS has informed the sole distributor and the vendor concerned of the irregularity and instructed them to stop sales and remove from shelves the affected batch of the product. According to the CFS's instructions, the sole distributor concerned has initiated a recall of the affected batch of the product. Members of the public may call its hotline at 6275 2510 during office hours for enquiries about the recall of the product concerned," the spokesman added. Sulphur dioxide is a commonly used preservative in a variety of foods including dried vegetables, dried fruits, pickled vegetables and salted fish products. This preservative is water soluble, most of it can be removed through washing and cooking. However, susceptible individuals who are allergic to this preservative may experience breathing difficulties, headaches and nausea after consumption. The spokesman reminded the food trade that the use of preservatives in food must comply with the Preservatives in Food Regulation (Cap. 132BD). Furthermore, the Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) Regulations (Cap. 132W) require that for all prepackaged food for sale in Hong Kong containing sulphite in a concentration of 10 parts per million or more, the functional class of the sulphite and its name shall be specified in the list of ingredients. Offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and six months' imprisonment upon conviction. The CFS will alert the trade, and will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action. An investigation is ongoing. Ends/Tuesday, October 6, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20261006_12647.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (October 5) announced that a trace amount of metabolite (AOZ) of furazolidone (a type of nitrofurans), a non-permitted veterinary drug, was found in a sample of prepackaged frozen shrimp. Members of the public should not consume the affected batch of the product. The trade should also stop using or selling the affected batch of the product immediately if they possess it. The CFS is following up on the incident. Product details are as follows: Product name: (Not available in English) Place of origin: China Distributor: Linson Global Seafood Trading Limited Weight: 200 grams Best-before date: January 22, 2028 A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS collected the shrimp sample from a fresh provision shop in North Point for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that it contained AOZ at a level of 6.1 parts per billion." "The CFS has informed the vendor concerned of the irregularity and instructed it to stop sale and remove from shelves the affected batch of the product. According to the CFS's instructions, the distributor has initiated a recall of the affected batch of the product. Members of the public may call its hotline at 2573 7433 during office hours for enquiries about the recall of the product concerned," the spokesman added. The CFS will alert the trade, and will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action. The investigation is ongoing. Ends/Monday, October 5, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20261005_12644.html)

A spokesman for the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department said today (September 30) that starting from 0.00am tomorrow (October 1), the operating hours for fresh produce imported via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) will be extended to 24 hours a day, to give the trade greater flexibility in scheduling the arrival of fresh food to better accommodate the diverse operational needs of different food sectors. Vehicles transporting designated categories of fresh food (frozen and chilled poultry, meat and game, eggs, milk, fresh aquatic products, vegetables and fruits) from the Mainland to Hong Kong via land will then be able to enter the territory via the HZMB at any time in order to further facilitate the trade and supply of fresh food. To ensure food safety, the CFS will inspect the vehicles importing fresh food via the Hong Kong Port of the HZMB. This includes examining the details of import documents, conducting physical inspections and taking fresh food samples for testing. The spokesman added that the operating hours and arrangements for vehicles transporting imported fresh food into Hong Kong via the Man Kam To Boundary Control Point remain unchanged. Ends/Wednesday, September 30, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260930_12629.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (September 30) released the findings of its food safety report for last month. The results of about 6,000 food samples tested (including food items purchased online) were found to be satisfactory except for 13 unsatisfactory samples that were announced earlier. The overall satisfactory rate was 99.8 per cent. A spokesman for the CFS said that about 1,700 food samples were collected for microbiological tests, and about 4,300 samples were taken for chemical and radiation level tests. The microbiological tests covered pathogens and hygiene indicators; the chemical tests included testing for pesticides, preservatives, metallic contaminants, colouring matters, veterinary drug residues and others; and the radiation-level tests included testing for radioactive caesium and iodine in samples collected from imported food from different regions. The samples comprised about 1,600 samples of vegetables and fruit and their products; about 500 samples of cereals, grains and their products; about 700 samples of meat and poultry and their products; about 800 samples of milk, milk products and frozen confections; about 800 samples of aquatic and related products; and about 1,600 samples of other food commodities (including beverages, bakery products and snacks). The 13 unsatisfactory samples were an orange sample, two choi sum samples, a pak-choi sample and a watermelon sample detected with pesticide residue exceeding the legal limit; a fresh beef sample found to contain sulphur dioxide; an imported prepackaged black cod steak sample detected with methylmercury, a metal contaminant, at a level exceeding the legal limit; four prepackaged milk samples found with a colony count exceeding the legal limit; an imported prepackaged rice vermicelli sample found to contain trace amount of formaldehyde; and a bottled pistachio paste sample found to contain an excessive amount of aflatoxin. The CFS has taken follow-up actions on the above-mentioned unsatisfactory samples, including informing the vendors concerned of the test results, instructing them to stop selling the affected food items, and tracing the sources of the food items in question. The spokesman reminded the food trade to ensure that food is fit for human consumption and meets legal requirements. Consumers should patronise reliable shops when buying food and maintain a balanced diet to minimise food risks. Separately, in response to the Japanese Government's discharge of nuclear-contaminated water at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station, the CFS will continue enhancing the testing on imported Japanese food, and make reference to the risk assessment results to adjust relevant surveillance work in a timely manner. The CFS will announce every working day on its dedicated webpage (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/programme/programme_rafs/daily_japan_nuclear_incidents.html) the radiological test results of the samples of food imported from Japan, with a view to enabling the trade and members of the public to have a better grasp of the latest safety information. Ends/Wednesday, September 30, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260930_12632.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (September 30) that an aquatic product from a regulated Japanese prefecture was suspected to be in breach of the relevant Food Safety Order when the CFS inspected food imported from Japan. The product concerned has been marked and sealed by the CFS and has not entered the market. The CFS is following up on the case. A spokesman for the CFS said, "During an inspection of a consignment of food imported from Japan, the CFS found a carton of dried barracuda product sourced from Chiba Prefecture after the Order was issued. The importer concerned is thus suspected of breaching the relevant Order." According to the Order, all aquatic products originating from 10 metropolises/prefectures, namely Tokyo, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Miyagi, Chiba, Gunma, Tochigi, Niigata, Nagano and Saitama, are prohibited from being imported into and supplied in Hong Kong if they are harvested, manufactured, processed or packed on or after August 24, 2023, including all live, chilled, frozen, dried or otherwise preserved aquatic products, sea salt, and unprocessed or processed seaweed. The CFS will continue to follow up on this incident and take appropriate action, including informing the Japanese authorities concerned of the incident. Prosecution will be instituted against the importer concerned should there be sufficient evidence. The investigation is ongoing. Ends/Wednesday, September 30, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260930_12633.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (September 30) that a sample of Hainanese chicken rice was found to contain a pathogen, Salmonella. The CFS is following up on the incident. "The CFS collected the above-mentioned sample from a restaurant in Wan Chai for testing. The test result showed the presence of Salmonella in 25 grams of the sample, exceeding the criterion of the Microbiological Guidelines for Food, which states that Salmonella should not be detected in 25g of a ready-to-eat food sample," a spokesman for the CFS said. The CFS has instantly deployed staff to the restaurant concerned for investigation, and has informed the restaurant concerned of the irregularity. The restaurant concerned has already stopped selling and discarded the affected product according to the CFS's instruction. The CFS has provided health education on food safety and hygiene to the person-in-charge and staff of the restaurant, and requested it to improve the food preparation process as well as carrying out thorough cleaning and disinfection according to the CFS's advice. According to section 54 of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132), all food available for sale in Hong Kong, locally produced or imported, should be fit for human consumption. An offender is subject to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months upon conviction. "Salmonella infection may cause fever and gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhoea. The effects on infants, young children, the elderly and people with a weak immune system could be more severe and may even lead to death," the spokesman said. The CFS will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health. The investigation is ongoing. Ends/Wednesday, September 30, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260930_12635.html)

With the National Day long holiday approaching, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has proactively taken preventive measures and inspected food premises serving tour groups in various districts of Hong Kong, based on the relevant information provided by the Travel Industry Authority, with the aim of enhancing food safety and hygiene awareness among the caterers. A spokesman for the FEHD said today (September 29), "The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) and the Environmental Hygiene Branch of the FEHD have jointly carried out inspections since September 21 to ensure that operators observe the licensing conditions regarding food handling and processing, and that the hygienic standards stipulated in the law are met. During the inspections, FEHD staff also provided food safety and hygiene education to operators and their staff, and collected food samples for testing." Regarding education and publicity, the CFS hosted an online health talk earlier for tour group catering service providers to provide advice on safe food preparation and remind them to maintain good personal, food and environmental hygiene at all times. Caterers were also encouraged to adhere to Good Hygiene Practices and develop a food safety plan based on the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points system. The FEHD will continue to monitor the situation and maintain close liaison with relevant stakeholders to safeguard public health and ensure food safety. Ends/Tuesday, September 29, 2026 With the National Day long holiday approaching, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has proactively taken preventive measures and inspected food premises serving tour groups in various districts of Hong Kong, based on the relevant information provided by the Travel Industry Authority, with the aim of enhancing food safety and hygiene awareness among the caterers. Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260929_12623.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (September 29), which is also World Heart Day, the latest progress of the Salt Reduction Scheme in Bread (the Scheme). All products participating in the Scheme have met the voluntary sodium reduction targets, marking the achievements of the joint efforts between the industry and the Government. The CFS launched the Scheme in 2019, setting voluntary sodium reduction targets for prepackaged white and wholemeal bread to reduce the sodium content in bread. In 2020, the CFS extended the Scheme to non-prepackaged white and wholemeal bread. Currently, seven prepackaged bread manufacturers and 19 non-prepackaged bread manufacturers are participating in the Scheme, providing about 80 types of related bread products that meet the sodium reduction targets on the market. The CFS presented certificates of appreciation to the participating bread manufacturers in recognition of their support. "The selected products from the prepackaged bread manufacturers and the participating products from the non-prepackaged bread manufacturers met the Scheme's voluntary sodium reduction targets (i.e. the average and maximum levels of sodium content per 100 grams of white bread should not exceed 380 milligrams and 490mg respectively; and the average and maximum levels of sodium content per 100g of wholemeal bread should not exceed 380mg and 470mg respectively). After the implementation of the Scheme, the average sodium content of related bread products decreased by 10 per cent to 17 per cent, with some manufacturers successfully reducing the sodium content of their products by more than 40 per cent," a spokesman for the CFS said. Sodium is essential for body functions, but excessive intake may increase the risk of developing high blood pressure. Untreated high blood pressure can lead to heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure and more. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the salt intake for adults should be less than 5g daily (i.e. 2, 000 mg of sodium). The Report of Population Health Survey 2020-22 published by the Department of Health revealed that Hong Kong people aged 15 to 84 had an average daily salt intake of 8.4g, which is higher than the WHO's recommendation. As we observe World Heart Day, the CFS reminds the public of the importance of reducing sodium intake in lowering the risk of high blood pressure, thereby promoting heart health and preventing cardiovascular diseases. The spokesman added that participating bread manufacturers had reduced the sodium content of bread by product reformulation. The CFS also provides training and sodium content testing for bread manufacturers in need and assists them in establishing standard operation procedures for bread to facilitate their product reformulation work. Ends/Tuesday, September 29, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260929_12625.html)

To enhance food safety and hygiene awareness among schools and licensed food factories supplying school lunch boxes, and to tie in with the new school year, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) and the Environmental Hygiene Branch of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) have stepped up inspections of licensed food factories supplying school lunch boxes in various districts of Hong Kong and collected food samples for testing. A spokesman for the FEHD said today (September 28), "Since July, the FEHD has inspected 46 licensed food factories supplying school lunch boxes, and reminded operators of the proper way of handling school lunch boxes. As at late September, the CFS has collected 92 lunch box samples from those licensed food factories for microbiological examinations. All samples tested satisfactory." Regarding education and publicity, to safeguard food safety on campuses, the CFS has arranged a series of online and physical seminars for schools and lunch box suppliers between July and late September, highlighting food safety hazards such as choking and food allergies, and emphasising the need for vigilance among teaching staff and food handlers in schools, as well as reminding lunch box suppliers to adhere to good hygiene practices when preparing food. At the same time, schools are also reminded to order lunch boxes from suppliers that hold a valid Food Factory Licence issued by the FEHD and are endorsed to provide lunch boxes. Lunch box suppliers are also reminded to establish a food safety plan based on the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) system to lower the risks of food contamination. The CFS has published "A Practical Guide for Ensuring Food Safety in Schools and Childcare Facilities" to which schools and childcare facilities can refer when choosing lunch box suppliers and ensuring food safety on campus. Lunch box caterers can make use of the guideline "Developing a School Food Safety Plan Based on HACCP system (for School Lunch Box Caterers)" to learn more about how to enhance the safety of lunch box production. For further details, please visit the "Safe Food at School" thematic webpage. Ends/Monday, September 28, 2026 To enhance food safety and hygiene awareness among schools and licensed food factories supplying school lunch boxes, and to tie in with the new school year, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has inspected 46 licensed food factories supplying school lunch boxes since July, and has reminded operators of the proper way of handling school lunch boxes. The Centre for Food Safety of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has arranged a series of online and physical seminars for schools and lunch box suppliers between July and late September, highlighting food safety hazards such as choking and food allergies, and emphasising the need for vigilance among teaching staff and food handlers in schools, as well as reminding lunch box suppliers to adhere to good hygiene practices when preparing food. Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260928_12619.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department said today (September 21) that the CFS is following up on a sample of ready-to-eat raw oysters imported from the United States (US) that was found with excessive Escherichia coli (E. coli). The CFS has instructed the importer concerned to stop sales, remove from shelves the affected product and initiate a recall immediately. The trade is also urged to stop using or selling the affected product immediately. Details of the product are as follows: Product name: Raw oystersBrand name: American PearlPlace of origin: USImporter: Caves Asia Company LimitedDate of harvesting: September 14, 2026 "The CFS collected the above-mentioned sample at the import level for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the most probable number of E. coli in the sample was at a level of 790 per 100 grams. According to the Microbiological Guidelines for Food, if the most probable number of E. coli in live or raw bivalve molluscs intended for direct consumption exceeds the level of 700 per 100g, the sample is considered unsatisfactory," a spokesman for the CFS said. The CFS has informed the importer concerned of the above irregularity, and has instructed it to stop sales, remove from shelves the affected batch of the product and initiate a recall. Enquiries about the recall can be made to the importer's hotline at 2423 5118 during office hours. The spokesman pointed out that as oysters feed by filtering a large volume of seawater, pathogens can accumulate in them if they are grown in or harvested from contaminated water. Raw or partially cooked oysters are high-risk foods. Susceptible groups, such as pregnant women, young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems or liver diseases, should avoid eating raw oysters. The CFS will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health. The investigation is ongoing. Ends/Monday, September 21, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260921_12610.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (September 16) announced the results of a seasonal food surveillance project on mooncakes. The results of 365 samples tested were all satisfactory. A spokesman for the CFS said that samples covering traditional, snowy, ice-cream and other types of mooncakes had been collected from various retailers (including online retailers) and food factories for chemical and microbiological tests and nutrition content analysis. Chemical tests covered colouring matters, aflatoxins, metallic contaminants, preservatives, antioxidants and mineral oil. Microbiological tests covered various pathogens and hygiene indicators. For nutrition content analyses (covering the contents of energy, protein, total fat, saturated fatty acids, trans fatty acids, carbohydrates, sodium and sugars), the samples were tested to see if they complied with the food labelling requirements. The spokesman reminded members of the public to maintain a balanced diet and avoid excessive consumption of mooncakes as they are generally high in sugar and fat. Some types of mooncakes also contain relatively high levels of salt. Eating too much fat will increase the risk of being overweight and obese, while dietary sugar intake is a determinant of body weight and dental caries. In addition, excessive sodium intake will increase the risk of developing hypertension, fatal stroke and coronary heart disease. He advised people to refer to the nutrition labels of mooncakes, particularly on the sugar, salt and fat contents, to make a healthier choice. People should avoid choosing mooncakes with high levels of fat or sugar, i.e. containing more than 20 grams of total fat or more than 15g of sugar per 100g of food. As for reducing salt intake, people can choose low-sodium mooncakes, i.e. containing no more than 120 milligrams of sodium per 100g of food. The spokesman said that people should consider their health conditions and consume mooncakes in an appropriate amount during the Mid-Autumn Festival. He advised people to share mooncakes with their family members and friends, as this not only enhances the festive atmosphere, but also allows them to taste mooncakes of different flavours and avoid over-consumption. Members of the public should heed the following points in the purchase, storage and consumption of mooncakes to prevent food-borne diseases: The spokesman also reminded food traders to adhere to the Good Hygiene Practices. Apart from purchasing food ingredients from reliable suppliers, they should also comply with legal requirements when using food additives. "Snowy and ice-cream mooncakes, which do not undergo a baking process at high temperature, need to be handled hygienically during processing, transportation and storage to avoid contamination and growth of germs," he said. Ends/Wednesday, September 16, 2026 The Centre for Food Safety of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (September 16) announced the results of a seasonal food surveillance project on mooncakes. The results of 365 samples tested were all satisfactory. Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260916_12603.html)

A spokesman for the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department said today (September 7) that starting from October 1 (Thursday), the operating hours for fresh produce imported via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) will be extended to 24 hours a day, to give the trade greater flexibility in scheduling the arrival of fresh food to better accommodate the diverse operational needs of different food sectors. Having discussed the arrangements with the Mainland authorities and listened to the views of the trade, the CFS decided to extend the operating hours from the existing 16 hours (i.e. from 1pm to 5am the next day) to 24 hours a day for fresh food to be imported through the HZMB into Hong Kong, with effect from 0.00am on October 1. Vehicles transporting designated categories of fresh food (frozen and chilled poultry, meat and game, eggs, milk, fresh aquatic products, vegetables and fruits) from the Mainland to Hong Kong via land will then be able to enter the territory via the HZMB at any time. To ensure food safety, the CFS will inspect the vehicles importing fresh food via the Hong Kong Port of the HZMB. This includes examining the details of import documents, conducting physical inspections and taking fresh food samples for testing. The spokesman added that the operating hours and arrangements for vehicles transporting imported fresh food into Hong Kong via the Man Kam To Boundary Control Point remain unchanged. Ends/Monday, September 7, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260907_12599.html)

The Government today (September 4) launched a three-month public consultation exercise on the proposed amendments to the Sweeteners in Food Regulations (Cap. 132U) to invite views from the public. Sweeteners are food additives that impart a sweet taste to food in place of sugars. Like other food additives, sweeteners are permitted for use only after stringent safety evaluations that demonstrate they are fit for consumption. The Regulations stipulate that no person shall sell, consign, deliver or import any food containing sweeteners, except the permitted sweeteners. The Environment and Ecology Bureau and the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department have reviewed the Regulations and proposed amendments to update Hong Kong's food safety standards. The proposed amendments have primarily made reference to the General Standard for Food Additives formulated by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, which was established by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Health Organization. The proposed legislative amendments include bringing polyhydric alcohols under the regulatory scope, expanding the list of permitted sweeteners, setting maximum permitted levels for different "sweetener-food" pairs, as well as making technical amendments, with a view to better protecting public health and harmonising with international standards. The proposed amendments are supported by the Expert Committee on Food Safety, which comprises local, Mainland and overseas experts. The Government also briefed the Legislative Council Panel on Food Safety and Environmental Hygiene in June this year on the proposed legislative amendments, which received general support from the Panel. A Government spokesman said, "Apart from enhancing the protection of food safety, the proposed amendments expand the list of permitted sweeteners to offer more choices for the trade and consumers. At the same time, harmonising local food safety standards for sweeteners with non-local standards helps facilitate the food trade. To allow reasonable preparation time for the trade and other stakeholders, the Government proposes to provide an 18-month transitional period following completion of the legislative procedure for the subsidiary legislation to amend the Regulations." The consultation document can be downloaded from the CFS website (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/whatsnew_fstr_Proposed_Amendments_Sweeteners_Food_Regulation.html). Members of the public may submit their written views on the proposed amendments by email (sweetener_consultation@fehd.gov.hk), fax (2893 3547) or post (43/F, Queensway Government Offices, 66 Queensway, Hong Kong) within the consultation period. The Government will also conduct consultation forums to collect views from the public. For details, please refer to the CFS website. Ends/Friday, September 4, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260904_12595.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (September 4) urged the public not to consume three batches of cheese originating from France due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The trade should stop using or selling the affected products immediately if they possess any of them. Details of the products are as follows: Product name (1): Brie 3kg 50%Brand: Paturages ComtoisPlace of origin: FranceNet weight: 3 kilogramsLot number: 00000BPBY1Use-by date: October 1, 2026Importer: Noja Fine Trade LimitedHotline: 2178 2229 Product name (2): Brie 60% 1kg Grand ExportBrand: Paturages ComtoisPlace of origin: FranceNet weight: 1 kilogramLot number: 00000BXCG1Use-by date: October 10, 2026Importer: Maxly Food Company LimitedHotline: 2552 7128 Product name (3): Pointe De Brie 180gBrand: Paturages ComtoisPlace of origin: FranceNet weight: 180 gramsLot number: 000000BXCGUse-by date: August 30, 2026Importer: King Rise (Asia) LimitedHotline: 2492 2677 "The CFS received a notification from the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed of the European Commission that the above-mentioned products were possibly contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. A preliminary investigation found that the above-mentioned importers had imported into Hong Kong the affected batches of the products concerned," a spokesman for the CFS said. The importers concerned have stopped sales and removed from shelves the affected batches of the products, and have initiated recalls according to the CFS's instructions. Members of the public may call the respective hotlines during office hours for enquiries. "Listeria monocytogenes can be easily destroyed by cooking but can survive and multiply at refrigerator temperature. Most healthy individuals do not develop symptoms or only have mild symptoms such as fever, muscle pain, headache, nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea when infected. However, severe complications such as septicaemia, meningitis or even death may occur in newborns, the elderly and those with a weaker immune system. Although infected pregnant women may just experience mild symptoms generally, the infection of Listeria monocytogenes may cause miscarriage, infant death, preterm birth, or severe infection in newborns," the spokesman added. "In order to reduce the risk of listeriosis, susceptible populations such as pregnant women should consume freshly prepared hot food where possible, reheat chilled food until it is hot all the way through, and avoid high-risk foods, including ready-to-eat food such as cold cuts, cold smoked seafood, soft cheeses, salads, etc, or cook them thoroughly before consumption, even if they are presented as part of a dish." The spokesman advised members of the public to stop consuming the affected products and seek medical treatment if they feel unwell after consuming the products concerned. The CFS will alert the trade to the incidents, and will continue to follow up and take appropriate actions. The investigations are ongoing. Ends/Friday, September 4, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260904_12597.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department said today (September 2) that the CFS is following up on a sample of chicken eggs imported from Vietnam that was found to contain pesticide fipronil at a level exceeding the legal limit. The CFS has instructed the importer concerned to stop sales and remove from shelves the affected product and to initiate a recall immediately. The trade is also urged to stop using or selling the affected product immediately. Details of the product are as follows: Product name: Chicken eggsPlace of origin: VietnamImporter: Rich Country Develop LimitedFarm in Vietnam: QL Farms (Tay Ninh) Liability Limited CompanyManufacture date: June 2026 "The CFS, under its routine Food Surveillance Programme, collected the above-mentioned chicken egg sample at the import level for testing of various pesticides. The test results showed that the sample contained fipronil at a level of 0.044 milligram per kilogram, exceeding the legal limit of 0.02mg per kg. The results of other pesticide tests were satisfactory. Should there be sufficient evidence, prosecution will be initiated," a spokesman for the CFS said. The CFS has informed the importer concerned of the irregularity, and has immediately instructed it to stop sales and remove from shelves the affected batch of the product and to initiate a recall. Enquiries about the recall can be made to the importer's hotline at 2765 8123 during office hours. An investigation by the CFS showed that the batch of chicken eggs was originated from QL Farms (Tay Ninh) Liability Limited Company, a farm in Vietnam, and the CFS has immediately suspended the relevant permission for the farm concerned to import chicken eggs. Furthermore, the CFS has taken a precautionary measure that all chicken eggs imported from Vietnam will be held for testing, and will only be released to the market for sale upon satisfactory test results. Fipronil is a broad-spectrum insecticide and acaricide. Any person who imports, manufactures or sells any food not in compliance with the requirements of the Pesticide Residues in Food Regulation (Cap. 132CM) concerning pesticide residues commits an offence and is liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and to imprisonment for six months upon conviction. "Based on the level of pesticide residue detected in the abovementioned sample, adverse health effects will not be caused under usual consumption," the spokesman added. The CFS advises members of the public to obtain chicken eggs and egg products from reliable sources. The CFS is in contact with the Vietnamese authorities regarding the incident and will maintain close liaison with the trade. The CFS will continue to follow up, step up surveillance and take appropriate action. The investigation is ongoing. The CFS has been collecting fresh chicken egg samples at the import, wholesale and retail levels for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme to ensure that food meets local legal requirements and is fit for human consumption. Between 2004 and August 2026, the CFS has collected more than 1 000 fresh chicken egg samples for chemical (including fipronil) testing. All samples passed the tests. Ends/Wednesday, September 2, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260902_12590.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (August 31) released the findings of its food safety report for last month. The results of about 6,200 food samples tested (including food items purchased online) were found to be satisfactory except for 10 unsatisfactory samples that were announced earlier. The overall satisfactory rate was 99.8 per cent. A spokesman for the CFS said that about 1,900 food samples were collected for microbiological tests, and about 4,300 samples were taken for chemical and radiation level tests. The microbiological tests covered pathogens and hygiene indicators; the chemical tests included testing for pesticides, preservatives, metallic contaminants, colouring matters, veterinary drug residues and others; and the radiation-level tests included testing for radioactive caesium and iodine in samples collected from imported food from different regions. The samples comprised about 1,700 samples of vegetables and fruit and their products; about 400 samples of cereals, grains and their products; about 800 samples of meat and poultry and their products; about 1,200 samples of milk, milk products and frozen confections; about 600 samples of aquatic and related products; and about 1,500 samples of other food commodities (including beverages, bakery products and snacks). The 10 unsatisfactory samples were two tomato samples, a mandarin sample and a papaya sample detected with pesticide residue exceeding the legal limit; a rabbitfish sample found with a trace amount of metabolite of nitrofuran (AOZ), a non-permitted veterinary drug; an ice-cream sample detected with a coliform bacteria count exceeding the legal limit; a prepackaged crushed red pepper sample and a prepackaged oregano sample found to contain a pesticide, ethylene oxide; an iron goddess basque burnt cheesecake sample found to contain an excessive amount of Bacillus cereus; and a Shanghai-style fried sauce noodles sample found to contain excessive Clostridium perfringens. The CFS has taken follow-up actions on the above-mentioned unsatisfactory samples, including informing the vendors concerned of the test results, instructing them to stop selling the affected food items, and tracing the sources of the food items in question. The spokesman reminded the food trade to ensure that food is fit for human consumption and meets legal requirements. Consumers should patronise reliable shops when buying food and maintain a balanced diet to minimise food risks. Separately, in response to the Japanese Government's discharge of nuclear-contaminated water at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station, the CFS will continue enhancing the testing on imported Japanese food, and make reference to the risk assessment results to adjust relevant surveillance work in a timely manner. The CFS will announce every working day on its dedicated webpage (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/programme/programme_rafs/daily_japan_nuclear_incidents.html) the radiological test results of the samples of food imported from Japan, with a view to enabling the trade and members of the public to have a better grasp of the latest safety information. Ends/Monday, August 31, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260831_12586.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (August 29) announced that a prepackaged rice vermicelli sample imported from Taiwan was found to contain trace amount of formaldehyde. The CFS is following up on the incident, and urges the public not to consume the affected batch of the product concerned. The trade should also stop using or selling the affected product if they possess it. Product details are as follows: Product name: Hsin Tung Yang Rice NoodlesBrand: Hsin Tung YangPlace of origin: TaiwanDistributor: B&S CompanyNet weight: 300 gramsBest-before date: April 10, 2029 A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS collected the above-mentioned sample from an online vendor for testing under its Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained formaldehyde at a level of 12 parts per million." The spokesman added, "The CFS has informed the vendor and the distributor concerned of the irregularity, and instructed the distributor concerned to immediately stop sales, remove from shelves, and initiate a recall of the affected batch of the product. Members of the public may call the distributor's hotline at 3628 7800 during office hours for enquiries about the recall. Furthermore, the CFS' follow-up investigation found that the distributor concerned stored about 450 cartons of the affected batch of the product in its warehouse. The CFS has immediately marked and sealed the products concerned." The CFS has also enhanced formaldehyde testing at the import and retail levels, and has recently collected over 70 food samples, including Chinese white cabbages, vegetables and rice vermicelli, for testing of formaldehyde content. Except for the rice vermicelli sample detected with formaldehyde, no other unsatisfactory testing results have been found so far. Follow-up action is ongoing. In addition, the CFS has taken over 175 rice vermicelli samples from January 2023 to July 2026 for various tests (including formaldehyde test), and all samples passed the tests. Although the International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified formaldehyde as Group 1 carcinogen, it is limited to exposure via inhalation. According to the recently published information by the World Health Organization, exposure to formaldehyde via the oral route is not carcinogenic. The spokesman said, "Based on the level of formaldehyde detected in the sample, it is unlikely to pose any adverse health effect upon normal consumption. However, under existing legislation in Hong Kong, formaldehyde is not permitted for use as a food preservative. Contravention of the law could lead to a maximum fine of $50,000 and six months' imprisonment." The CFS advises members of the public to patronise reliable restaurants and food retailers. As formaldehyde is water-soluble and highly volatile, washing and cooking food ingredients thoroughly before consumption can reduce the relevant risk. The trade should be cautious about the origins from which the food products are sourced, and should only obtain them from reliable sources. The CFS has alerted the trade, and will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action. The investigation is ongoing. Ends/Saturday, August 29, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260829_12583.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (August 26) that samples of a batch of prepackaged milk were found with a colony count exceeding the legal limit. The affected product has been marked and sealed, and has not entered the market. The CFS is following up on the incident. Product details are as follows: Product name: Junlebao Pure MilkBrand: JunlebaoPlace of origin: ChinaVolume: 1 litre per packBest-before date: December 6, 2026Importer: Junlebao (Hong Kong) International Trading Limited "The CFS collected samples of the above-mentioned batch of milk beverage at the import level for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test results showed that four of the samples contained a colony count of 10 or more, exceeding the legal limit under the Milk Regulation (Cap 132 AQ)," a spokesman for the CFS said. The CFS has informed the importer concerned of the irregularities. An investigation revealed that the affected batch of the product is still stored in the importer's warehouse. It has not entered the local market. The CFS will temporarily suspend the permission granted earlier to the importer to import the product concerned for sale. Other types of similar products of the same brand being sold in the market are not affected. "The fact that the colony count exceeds the legal limit indicates unsatisfactory hygienic conditions, but does not mean it would lead to food poisoning," the spokesman added. The CFS will continue to follow up the incident to safeguard food safety and public health. Ends/Wednesday, August 26, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260826_12580.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (August 21) urged the public not to consume a batch of cheese originated from France due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The trade should stop using or selling the affected product immediately if they possess it. The product details are as follows: Product name: Brie Mon Sire 1KGPlace of origin: FranceLot number: CZDI2Use-by date: November 10, 2026Importer: Classic Fine Foods (Hong Kong) Limited "The CFS received a notification from the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed of the European Commission that the above-mentioned product was possibly contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. A preliminary investigation found that the above-mentioned importer had imported into Hong Kong the affected batch of the product concerned," a spokesman for the CFS said. The importer concerned has stopped sales and removed from shelves the affected batch of the product and has initiated a recall according to the CFS's instructions. Enquiries can be made to the importer's hotline at 3145 7819 during office hours. "Listeria monocytogenes can be easily destroyed by cooking but can survive and multiply at refrigerator temperature. Most healthy individuals do not develop symptoms or only have mild symptoms such as fever, muscle pain, headache, nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea when infected. However, severe complications such as septicaemia, meningitis or even death may occur in newborns, the elderly and those with a weaker immune system. Although infected pregnant women may just experience mild symptoms generally, the infection of Listeria monocytogenes may cause miscarriage, infant death, preterm birth, or severe infection in newborns," the spokesman added. "In order to reduce the risk of listeriosis, susceptible populations such as pregnant women should consume freshly prepared hot food where possible, reheat chilled food until it is hot all the way through, and avoid high-risk foods, including ready-to-eat food such as cold cuts, cold smoked seafood, soft cheeses, salads, etc, or cook them thoroughly before consumption, even if they are presented as part of a dish." The spokesman advised members of the public to stop consuming the affected product and seek medical treatment if they feel unwell after consuming the product concerned. The CFS will alert the trade to the incident, and will continue to follow up and take appropriate action. The investigation is ongoing. Ends/Friday, August 21, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260821_12575.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (August 20) released the findings of its Summer Food Surveillance Programme 2026. The results of about 2,600 food samples tested were satisfactory, except for six unsatisfactory samples that had been announced earlier. The overall satisfactory rate was 99.8 per cent. A spokesman for the CFS reminded members of the public to remain vigilant and pay more attention to food safety and environmental hygiene as the hot and humid climate of the long summer in Hong Kong facilitates the multiplication of bacteria. The spokesman said, "The CFS collected about 2,600 samples from market stalls, restaurants, food factories, fresh provision shops, online vendors (including online retailers and online food delivery platforms), hawkers and others for tests." The samples comprised 535 samples of dairy products and frozen confections, 113 samples of cut fruit and salads, 192 samples of desserts and drinks, 61 samples of sandwiches, 244 samples of cold cuts or cooked meat products, 862 samples of aquatic products (such as sushi and sashimi, fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other edible aquatic animals) and 592 samples of other ready-to-eat foods. The spokesman said that about 2,420 food samples were collected for microbiological tests, and about 170 samples for chemical tests. The results showed that except for a frozen confection sample and four ice cream samples detected with coliform bacteria counts exceeding the legal limits, and a prepackaged pork floss sample detected with an antioxidant exceeding the legal limit, the remaining samples were all satisfactory. The overall satisfactory rate was 99.8 per cent. The CFS has announced the test results of the unsatisfactory samples and conducted follow-up actions, including instructing the vendors concerned to stop selling the relevant food and remove from shelves the affected products, and tracing the sources of the food items in question. A spokesman for the CFS said, "In view of hot weather, the CFS has been enhancing surveillance of frozen confection. The FEHD has been stepping up inspections of factories that manufacture ice cream at the wholesale level and licensed frozen confection factories at the retail level this year, ensuring that food premises comply with relevant licensing conditions and meet statutory hygiene standards in the handling and manufacturing of ice cream. As of July this year, the CFS has organised 10 thematic seminars for the trade, providing health education to operators and staff of frozen confection factories and distributing food safety pamphlets to remind them of the proper way of handling frozen confections. The CFS has also reminded members of the public to pay attention to food safety during the summer period through various channels, such as social media and seminars." The spokesman reminded members of the public in particular that raw or undercooked foods are high-risk foods as there is not any, or inadequate, heat treatment to eliminate the microorganisms present that can pose risks to human health. Raw or undercooked foods are also associated with the risk of contracting antimicrobial resistance (AMR) microorganisms. Although these AMR microorganisms may not cause illnesses, they may transfer their antibiotic resistance genes to other bacteria inside the human body, therefore affecting the effectiveness of the future use of antibiotics when needed. Susceptible populations such as pregnant women, young children, the elderly and people with weakened immunity (e.g. people with chronic diseases or those on antibiotics treatment, antacid and long-term steroids or drugs given to prevent transplant rejection) are of higher risk of being infected or having complications if they consume raw or undercooked foods due to their health status. They should therefore avoid eating raw and undercooked foods. Members of the public should pay attention to food safety, especially in summer, and observe the following Five Keys to Food Safety in order to reduce the risk of foodborne diseases: Members of the public are also reminded to dine out in licensed and hygienic restaurants. Food premises selling sushi and sashimi or other high-risk foods require a special permit. The public should patronise only those with relevant licences or permits issued by the FEHD. Ends/Thursday, August 20, 2026 The Centre for Food Safety of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (August 20) released the findings of its Summer Food Surveillance Programme 2026. The overall satisfactory rate of about 2 600 food samples tested was 99.8 per cent. Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260820_12572.html)

To prepare for the new school year, and to enhance food safety and hygiene awareness among licensed food factories supplying school lunch boxes, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) and the Environmental Hygiene Branch of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) launched a series of operations to inspect licensed food factories supplying school lunch boxes in various districts of Hong Kong with a view to ensuring food safety. A spokesman for the FEHD said today (August 19), "The FEHD has enhanced inspections of food factories supplying school lunch boxes to ensure that the licensing conditions in respect of food handling and processing are observed by the operators, and that hygienic standards stipulated in the laws are met. Food samples are continuously collected for testing. Meanwhile, FEHD staff will also provide health education to operators and staff of food factories, distributing food safety pamphlets to remind them of the proper way of handling school lunch boxes." The CFS hosted an online trade meeting on July 9 to remind lunch box suppliers to adhere to good hygiene practices and establish a food safety plan based on the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points system. Suppliers may refer to the relevant guidelines for more safety information on lunch box production. Furthermore, to ensure food safety on campuses, the CFS arranged an online seminar for schools on July 29, highlighting food safety hazards such as choking and food allergies, and advising schools to choose lunch box suppliers that hold a valid Food Factory Licence issued by the FEHD and are endorsed to provide lunch boxes. Before placing orders, schools should visit the premises to ensure that food handlers observe food safety and hygiene practices. The CFS has published "A Practical Guide for Ensuring Food Safety in Schools and Childcare Facilities", to which schools and childcare facilities can refer when choosing lunchbox suppliers and ensuring food safety on campus. For further details, please visit the "Safe Food at School" thematic webpage. Ends/Wednesday, August 19, 2026 To prepare for the new school year, and to enhance food safety and hygiene awareness among licensed food factories supplying school lunch boxes, the Centre for Food Safety and the Environmental Hygiene Branch of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has launched a series of operations and stepped up inspections of licensed food factories supplying school lunch boxes in various districts of Hong Kong, with a view to ensuring food safety. The Centre for Food Safety of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department hosted an online trade meeting on July 9 to remind school lunch box suppliers to adhere to good hygiene practices and establish a food safety plan based on the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points system. Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260819_12570.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (August 18) urged the public not to consume a batch of spread product imported from France due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The trade should stop using or selling the affected batch of the product immediately if they possess it. Product details are as follows: Product name: Ktipiti Extra Red Pepper & Feta Cheese SpreadBrand: L'atelier BliniPlace of origin: FranceNet weight: 175 gramsBatch number: 12262661Use-by date: August 30, 2026Importer: City Super Limited "The CFS, through its Food Incident Surveillance System, noted a notification from the Rappel Conso of France that the above-mentioned product is being recalled as it might be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes due to suspected issue with the cold chain. Upon learning of the incident, the CFS immediately contacted local importers to follow up. A preliminary investigation found that the above-mentioned importer had imported into Hong Kong the affected batch of the product concerned," a spokesman for the CFS said. As a precautionary measure, the importer concerned has stopped sales and removed from shelves the affected batch of the product and has initiated a recall according to the CFS's instructions. Members of the public may call the importer's hotline at 2736 3866 during office hours for enquiries about the recall. "Listeria monocytogenes can be easily destroyed by cooking but can survive and multiply at refrigerator temperatures. Most healthy individuals do not develop symptoms or only have mild symptoms such as fever, muscle pain, headache, nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea when infected. However, severe complications such as septicaemia, meningitis or even death may occur in newborns, the elderly and those with a weaker immune system. Although infected pregnant women may just experience mild symptoms generally, the infection of Listeria monocytogenes may cause miscarriage, infant death, preterm birth, or severe infection in newborns," the spokesman added. "In order to reduce the risk of listeriosis, susceptible populations such as pregnant women should consume freshly prepared hot food where possible, reheat chilled food until it is hot all the way through, and avoid high-risk foods, including ready-to-eat food such as cold cuts, cold smoked seafood, soft cheeses, salads, etc, or cook them thoroughly before consumption, even if they are presented as part of a dish." The spokesman advised members of the public to stop consuming the affected batch of the product and seek medical treatment if they feel unwell after consuming the product concerned. The CFS has contacted the French authority over the incident and will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health. The investigation is ongoing. Ends/Tuesday, August 18, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260818_12568.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (August 12) announced that a bottled pistachio paste sample was found to contain an excessive amount of aflatoxin. Members of the public should not consume the affected batch of the product. The trade should also stop using or selling the affected batch of the product immediately if they possess it. Product details are as follows: Product name: 100% Pure Pistachio ButterBrand: NaturalamPlace of origin: ChinaNet weight: 110 gramsBest-before date: April 16, 2027Retailer: Sogo Fresh MartDistributor: Master Lam Foods Ltd "The CFS collected the above-mentioned sample from a supermarket in Causeway Bay for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that it contained aflatoxin at a level of 120 micrograms per kilogram," a spokesman for the CFS said. Under the Harmful Substances in Food Regulations (Cap. 132AF), the maximum concentration for aflatoxin in any other food is 10 micrograms per kilogram. The CFS has informed the retailer and distributor concerned of the irregularity. The retailer and distributor concerned have stopped sales, removed the affected batch of the product from shelves and initiated a recall. Members of the public may call the distributor's hotline at 2763 9596 during office hours for enquiries about the recall. The World Health Organization (WHO)'s International Agency for Research on Cancer classified naturally occurring aflatoxins as carcinogenic to humans, and the Joint Food and Agriculture Organization/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives advised that intake of aflatoxins should be reduced to levels as low as reasonably possible although no health-based guidance value has been set. Aflatoxins can lead to liver cancer after long-term ingestion, and the risk for hepatitis B carriers is relatively high. The spokesman urged members of the public who had bought the affected product to stop consuming it. To avoid excessive intake of mycotoxins, people should maintain a balanced and varied diet to minimise the risk from a small range of food items, and to avoid consuming food that looks mouldy or damaged. The CFS has alerted the trade, and will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action. An investigation is ongoing. Ends/Wednesday, August 12, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260812_12559.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (August 11) urged the public not to consume two kinds of bottled olive oil products, as the products might contain mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH). For the sake of prudence, the CFS urged the public not to consume the products concerned, regardless of batches. The trade should stop using or selling the affected products immediately if they possess any of them. Product details are as follows:Brand: OlitaliaProduct names: Olitalia Pomace Olive Oil 1LOlitalia Pomace Olive Oil 5LDistributor: Lorence & Company LimitedPlace of packaging：Italy A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS proactively monitored through the Food Incident Surveillance System and noted an announcement issued by the Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain of Belgium indicating that the above-mentioned products were detected with mineral oil MOAH at levels exceeding the relevant standard. All batches of products concerned are being recalled in Belgium." Preliminary investigation revealed that the distributor concerned had distributed the affected products. As a precautionary measure, the distributor has voluntarily stopped sales, removed the affected products from shelves and initiated a recall. Members of the public may call the distributor's hotline at 2293 9398 during office hours for enquiries about the recall. According to the Mineral Oil in Food Regulations (Cap 132AR), no person shall sell for human consumption any article of food containing any mineral oil, unless the presence of mineral oil in any article of food is due to its use as a lubricant or greasing agent on some surface with which the article of food comes into contact in the course of its preparation (at levels not exceeding 0.2% by weight of the article of food). The CFS has collected over 3 000 edible oil samples for chemical and microbiological testing from 2023 to July 2026, under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. Except for one unsatisfactory sample that was announced earlier in which it was found to contain metallic contaminant, the remaining samples were found to be satisfactory. The CFS has contacted the Belgium authority over the incident and will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health. The investigation is ongoing. Ends/Tuesday, August 11, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260811_12557.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (August 6) that a sample of prepackaged black cod steak was detected with methylmercury, a metal contaminant, at a level exceeding the legal limit. The CFS is following up on the incident. Product details are as follows: Product name: U.S. Alaska Black Cod SteakBrand: Alaska SeafoodPlace of origin: United StatesNet weight: 350 grams per pack Vendor: (Not available in English)Importer: Galleon International LimitedBest-before date: September 20, 2026 A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS collected the above-mentioned sample from an online shop for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained methylmercury at a level of 0.8 milligram per kilogram, exceeding the legal limit of 0.5mg per kg." The CFS has informed the vendor concerned of the irregularity and instructed it to stop sales and remove from shelves the affected batch of the product. The importer concerned has initiated a recall according to the CFS's instructions. Members of the public may call the importer's hotline at 3643 0172 during office hours for enquiries about the recall. The CFS is also tracing the source of the product concerned. "Methylmercury is the major form of mercury in fish. At high levels, mercury can affect foetal brain development, and affect vision, hearing, muscle co-ordination and memory in adults. Furthermore, as some international organisations such as the World Health Organization have pointed out, consuming predatory fish species is the main source of mercury intake for human beings. The report of the CFS's Total Diet Study has also pointed out that large fish or predatory fish species may contain high mercury levels (for example, tuna, alfonsino, shark, swordfish, marlin, orange roughy and king mackerel). Hence, groups particularly susceptible to the adverse effects of mercury, such as pregnant women, women planning a pregnancy and young children should opt for fish that are smaller in size for consumption and avoid consumption of the above-mentioned types of fish to minimise excessive exposure to metal contaminants in food," the spokesman added. According to the Food Adulteration (Metallic Contamination) Regulations (Cap. 132V), any person who sells food with metallic contamination above the legal limit is liable upon conviction to a fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months. ​The CFS will alert the trade, and will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health. The investigation is ongoing. Ends/Thursday, August 6, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260806_12548.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (August 5) that a fresh beef sample was found to contain sulphur dioxide, a preservative which is not permitted to be used in fresh meat. The CFS is following up on the incident. A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS, under its routine Food Surveillance Programme, took the fresh beef sample from a market stall in Tai Kiu Market, Yuen Long, for testing. The test result showed that the sample contained sulphur dioxide at a level of 785 parts per million. The CFS is following up with the market stall concerned about the irregularity." According to the Preservatives in Food Regulation (Cap. 132BD) (the Regulation), it is an offence to add sulphur dioxide to fresh or chilled meat. The maximum penalty is a $50,000 fine and six months' imprisonment. Sulphur dioxide is a preservative which can be used in a variety of foods including dried vegetables, dried fruits, pickled vegetables and salted fish products, but under the Regulation it is not permitted in fresh or chilled meat. Individual meat traders have been found illegally using sulphur dioxide to make meat look fresher. Sulphur dioxide is water-soluble, and most of it can be removed through washing and cooking. However, susceptible individuals who are allergic to this preservative may experience breathing difficulties, headaches and nausea after consumption. The spokesman reminded the food trade to comply with the law and not to sell fresh or chilled meat adulterated with sulphur dioxide. Members of the public should purchase meat from reliable market stalls or fresh provision shops. They should avoid buying or consuming meat which is unnaturally red, and maintain a balanced diet to avoid malnutrition or excessive exposure to chemicals from a small range of food items. ​The CFS will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action. The investigation is ongoing. Ends/Wednesday, August 5, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260805_12545.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (August 3) that an aquatic product from a regulated Japanese prefecture was suspected to be in breach of the relevant Food Safety Order when the CFS inspected food imported from Japan. The product concerned has been marked and sealed by the CFS and has not entered the market. The CFS is following up on the case. A spokesman for the CFS said, "During an inspection of a consignment of food imported from Japan, the CFS found a batch of dried fish product with almond packed in Saitama Prefecture after the Order was issued. The importer concerned is thus suspected of breaching the relevant Order." According to the Order, all aquatic products originating from 10 metropolis/prefectures, namely Tokyo, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Miyagi, Chiba, Gunma, Tochigi, Niigata, Nagano and Saitama, are prohibited from being imported into and supplied in Hong Kong if they are harvested, manufactured, processed or packed on or after August 24, 2023, including all live, chilled, frozen, dried or otherwise preserved aquatic products, sea salt, and unprocessed or processed seaweed. The CFS will continue to follow up on this incident and take appropriate action, including informing the Japanese authorities concerned of the incident. Prosecution will be instituted against the importer concerned should there be sufficient evidence. The investigation is ongoing. Ends/Monday, August 3, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260803_12543.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (July 31) released the findings of its food safety report for last month. The results of about 7,200 food samples tested (including food items purchased online) were found to be satisfactory except for nine unsatisfactory samples that were announced earlier. The overall satisfactory rate was 99.9 per cent. A spokesman for the CFS said that about 2,200 food samples were collected for microbiological tests, and about 5,000 samples were taken for chemical and radiation level tests. The microbiological tests covered pathogens and hygiene indicators; the chemical tests included testing for pesticides, preservatives, metallic contaminants, colouring matters, veterinary drug residues and others; and the radiation-level tests included testing for radioactive caesium and iodine in samples collected from imported food from different regions. The samples comprised about 1,900 samples of vegetables and fruit and their products; about 500 samples of cereals, grains and their products; about 700 samples of meat and poultry and their products; about 1,200 samples of milk, milk products and frozen confections; about 1,300 samples of aquatic and related products; and about 1,600 samples of other food commodities (including beverages, bakery products and snacks). The nine unsatisfactory samples were a tomato sample detected with a pesticide residue exceeding the legal limit; four beef samples and a beef congee sample found to contain sulphur dioxide; a prepackaged frozen sardine sample found to contain histamine; an imported crab sample detected with cadmium, a metallic contaminant, at a level exceeding the legal limit; and a soft ice-cream sample detected with a coliform bacteria count exceeding the legal limit. The CFS has taken follow-up actions on the above-mentioned unsatisfactory samples, including informing the vendors concerned of the test results, instructing them to stop selling the affected food items, and tracing the sources of the food items in question. The spokesman reminded the food trade to ensure that food is fit for human consumption and meets legal requirements. Consumers should patronise reliable shops when buying food and maintain a balanced diet to minimise food risks. Separately, in response to the Japanese Government's discharge of nuclear-contaminated water at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station, the CFS will continue enhancing the testing on imported Japanese food, and make reference to the risk assessment results to adjust relevant surveillance work in a timely manner. The CFS will announce every working day on its dedicated webpage (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/programme/programme_rafs/daily_japan_nuclear_incidents.html) the radiological test results of the samples of food imported from Japan, with a view to enabling the trade and members of the public to have a better grasp of the latest safety information. Ends/Friday, July 31, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260731_12540.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) announced today (July 29) that the CFS continues to actively follow up on a case announced earlier by the Macao authority, concerning a batch of powdered infant formula found with lead exceeding its permissible levels. A spokesman for the CFS said, "Upon learning of the incident earlier, the CFS immediately stepped up the surveillance of powdered infant and follow-up formula. Over the past four days (from July 25 to July 28), the CFS collected over 50 samples of powdered infant and follow-up formula products in the market for lead content testing, including 11 batches of Frisolac Prestige Stage 1 Infant Formula (800g) (see Annex for details). No case exceeding Hong Kong's statutory standard was found, i.e. lead content not exceeding 0.01 milligram per kilogram." The spokesperson added that the CFS will continue to collect powdered infant and follow-up formula samples in the market for testing, and will closely monitor the development of the incident to fully safeguard food safety. The spokesperson supplemented that long term excessive exposure to lead in children can lead to neurological impairment and affect brain development. Regarding the individual batch previously recalled (Product name: Frisolac Prestige Stage 1 Infant Formula (800g); Best-before date: September 30, 2027; Batch number: 1W07KPJ), the CFS has deployed officers to inspect various retail outlets to ensure that the affected batch of the product has been removed from shelves to safeguard food safety. The CFS urged again members of the public not to let infants and young children consume the affected batch of product, and to seek medical treatment if infants or young children who feel unwell after consuming the product concerned. Apart from contacting the Macao authority and informing the trade and relevant departments, the CFS took the initiative earlier to meet with the importer concerned, urging them to properly handle the product recall issue. The importer concerned is currently recalling the affected batch of powdered infant formula. Members of the public can call the importer's hotline at 2280 4731 during office hours for enquiries about the recall. The trade should also immediately stop using or selling the affected batch of products. The CFS has been collecting powdered infant and follow-up formula samples from local retail outlets for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme to safeguard the food safety of infants and young children. From 2023 to July 2026, the CFS has collected over 2,200 powdered infant and follow-up formula samples from the market for chemical and microbiological testing, including lead content tests. No unsatisfactory samples for lead content were found. The CFS has established a designated webpage (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/whatsnew/powdered_formula_lead/index.html) to facilitate public access to more information. The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has been collecting powdered infant and follow-up formula samples from local retail outlets for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme to safeguard the food safety of infants and young children. The CFS has deployed officers to inspect various retail outlets to ensure that the affected batch of powdered infant formula has been removed from shelves to safeguard food safety. The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has been collecting powdered infant and follow-up formula samples from local retail outlets for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme to safeguard the food safety of infants and young children. The CFS immediately stepped up surveillance and will continue to collect powdered infant and follow-up formula samples in the market for testing to fully safeguard food safety. Attachment Annex Ends/Wednesday, July 29, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260729_12534.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (July 28) announced that a sample of Shanghai-style fried sauce noodles was found to contain excessive Clostridium perfringens, a pathogen. The CFS is following up on the incident. A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS collected the above-mentioned sample from a licensed light refreshment restaurant in Kwai Chung for testing. The test result showed that the sample contained Clostridium perfringens at a level of 95,000 per gram. According to the Microbiological Guidelines for Food, ready-to-eat food that contains more than 10,000 Clostridium perfringens per gram is considered unsatisfactory." "The CFS has instantly sent staff to the light refreshment restaurant concerned for conducting investigation and taking food samples for laboratory testing. The restaurant concerned has been informed of the irregularity, and it has already stopped selling and discarded the affected product according to the CFS's instruction. The CFS has also provided education on food safety and hygiene to the person-in-charge and staff of the restaurant and requested that it improve the food preparation process and carry out thorough cleaning and disinfection," the spokesman said. Clostridium perfringens is widely distributed in the environment. Foods prepared in bulk, especially cooked meat and poultry dishes, and stored at ambient temperatures with a long cooling period after cooking are at high risk. Consuming food contaminated with excessive Clostridium perfringens may cause symptoms such as abdominal pain and diarrhoea. The CFS will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action. The investigation is ongoing. Ends/Tuesday, July 28, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260728_12526.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (July 28) announced that a trace amount of metabolite of nitrofuran (AOZ), a non-permitted veterinary drug, was found in a rabbitfish sample. A follow-up investigation is in progress. A CFS spokesman said, "The CFS collected the above-mentioned rabbitfish sample from a licensed fresh provision shop in Kowloon City for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that it contained AOZ at a level of 7 parts per billion. The CFS has informed the vendor concerned of the irregularity. According to the information provided by the vendor, there was no remaining stock of the affected batch. The CFS will trace the source and distribution of the affected product. ​The CFS will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action. The investigation is ongoing. Ends/Tuesday, July 28, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260728_12528.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (July 27) announced the results of a risk assessment study on sodium levels of bread products available in the local market. The study found that the overall average sodium content of the bread samples remained below the "high sodium" threshold. However, wide variations in sodium levels were observed among samples within the same bread type, suggesting that there is still room for the trade to reduce sodium content. A total of 112 non-prepackaged bread samples were collected at the retail level for the determination of sodium content. The study covered 12 varieties of bread, namely bagel, butter loaf, cheese bread, cocktail bun, croissant, French bread, "pineapple" bun, sausage bun, sesame roll/bun, sweet plain roll/bun, tuna fish bun and wheat bread with raisins. Moreover, the bread and the stuffings of sausage and tuna fish buns were separately analysed to determine the two portions' contribution to the overall sodium content. The findings showed that the average sodium content across all 12 types of commonly consumed bread samples was 320 milligrams/100 grams. French bread recorded the highest average sodium content at 550mg/100g, followed by cheese bread at 490mg/100g and bagels at 470mg/100g. The bread types with the lowest average sodium levels were wheat bread with raisins at 100mg/100g, and butter loaves and sweet plain rolls/buns which both averaged 130mg/100g. The study also found that the sausage and tuna fish stuffing portions accounted for an average of 55 per cent and 35 per cent of the total sodium content in their respective buns. Moreover, compared to overseas studies covering similar types of bread, the sodium levels of bagel, croissant, French bread and sweet plain roll/bun were comparable or lower. A spokesman for the CFS said, "While the study found that the overall average sodium content of the bread samples remained below the 'high sodium' threshold (exceeding 600mg/100g), the sodium levels in some bread types were higher. For instance, consuming approximately one serving size of French bread (about 100g, equivalent to about one third of a long baguette of French bread) or one cheese bun could reach about one quarter of the maximum daily intake of 2000 mg recommended by the World Health Organization. The study also revealed significant variations in sodium content in the same type of bread produced by different suppliers, indicating that there is substantial room for the trade to reduce sodium through recipe reformulation." In light of the study findings, the CFS suggests the food trade consider reducing the sodium content of bread by modifying the preparation methods, ingredient(s) and formulations. The trade could also provide more bread products with lower sodium content for consumers to choose from, consider offering bread in smaller portion sizes, and establish a company database to record the sodium content of their bread products for monitoring. The CFS is also implementing a salt reduction scheme in bread by working with the industry to offer white bread and wholemeal bread with reduced sodium content via recipe reformulation. As for consumers, they should maintain a balanced and varied diet, avoiding excessive consumption of high-sodium bread to prevent excessive intake of sodium. When purchasing prepackaged bread, consumers should refer to the nutrition labels and select products with lower sodium levels and also pay attention to the levels of other nutrients (such as sugar and fat). ​Details and results of the study are available on the CFS website at www.cfs.gov.hk. Ends/Monday, July 27, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260727_12519.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (July 25) urged the public not to consume a batch of powdered infant formula, as the product was found by the Macao authority with lead possibly exceeding its permissible levels. The trade should stop using or selling the affected batch of the product immediately if they possess it. Product details are as follows: Product name: Frisolac Prestige Stage 1 Infant Formula (800g)Brand: FRISO PRESTIGEPlace of origin: NetherlandsNet weight: 800 gramsBest-before date: September 30, 2027Batch number: 1W07KPJImporter: FrieslandCampina (Hong Kong) Ltd A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS noted a press release issued by the Macao authority this afternoon that the above-mentioned powdered infant formula was detected with lead content exceeding its permissible levels, while no abnormalities have been found in other batches of the relevant powdered infant formula so far. The CFS immediately followed up on the incident and contacted the importer concerned. Preliminary investigation by the CFS confirmed that the above-mentioned importer had imported the affected batch of the product into Hong Kong. The importer concerned has also arranged testing on two samples of the same batch, and the results showed that they complied with the standards of Hong Kong and Macao. For the sake of prudence, the importer concerned has already stopped sales and removed the affected product from shelves, and the CFS has instructed the importer to initiate a recall of the affected batch of product. Members of the public may call the distributor's hotline at 2280 4731 during office hours for enquiries about the recall." The spokesman added that the CFS is stepping up the surveillance of powdered infant and young children formula in the market and will continue to closely monitor the recall of the related product to fully safeguard food safety. The CFS has been collecting powdered infant and young children formula samples from local retail outlets for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme to safeguard the health and food safety of infants and young children. From 2023 to June 2026, the CFS has collected over 2,000 powdered infant and young children formula samples from the market for chemical and microbiological testing, including lead content tests. No unsatisfactory samples for lead content were found. The spokesman added that long term excessive exposure to lead in children can lead to neurological impairment and affect brain development. The CFS urged members of the public not to let infants and young children consume the affected batch of the product, and to seek medical treatment for infants or young children who felt unwell after taking the product concerned. The trade should also stop using or selling the affected batch of the product immediately. The CFS has alerted the trade and relevant departments to the incident, and will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action. Ends/Saturday, July 25, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260726_12517.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (July 24) released the fifth report under the Second Hong Kong Total Diet Study (2nd HKTDS), which assessed the levels of cadmium and lead in food and the overall dietary exposure to these metallic contaminants among the Hong Kong population. Cadmium and lead are metallic elements that are present ubiquitously in the environment. They can be released through various natural processes or human activities, and then enter the human food chain. The study findings showed that the dietary exposure estimates of the local adult and younger populations to cadmium were below the provisional tolerable monthly intake established by the Joint Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations/World Health Organization Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), while those of lead fell below the respective dietary exposure levels identified by JECFA, indicating that the health impacts on the local population are also low. The dietary exposure estimates of the overall adult population to cadmium and lead were lower than those reported in the First Hong Kong Total Diet Study conducted between 2010 and 2014. Out of a total of 187 food items covering 15 food groups tested in the Study, 125 (67 per cent) were detected with cadmium, while lead was detected in 176 (94 per cent). The three major food groups, namely "cereals and their products", "vegetables and their products" and "fish, seafood and their products", accounted for about 80 per cent of the total dietary exposure to cadmium and about 50 per cent of the total dietary exposure to lead in the local population. According to the safety evaluation conducted by JECFA, long-term excessive exposure to cadmium may affect kidney functions, while long-term exposure to lead may cause damage to the nervous system and hypertension. Nevertheless, the above study findings showed that the dietary exposure estimates of the local population to cadmium and lead all fell below the respective levels identified by JECFA, thus the health impacts on the local population are low. A spokesman for the CFS reminded members of the public to maintain a balanced and varied diet. Moreover, additional food preparation steps, including washing vegetables and fruits thoroughly to remove dust and soil, removing outer leaves from leafy greens and peeling off the skin of root crops, may be adopted to reduce cadmium and lead levels therein. he 2nd HKTDS aims to estimate the latest dietary exposure of the Hong Kong population and various population subgroups to a range of chemical substances of potential food safety concern, and to assess the associated health risks. The public can download the study reports released thus far from the CFS webpage at www.cfs.gov.hk/english/programme/programme_firm/programme_tds_2nd_HKTDS_report.html. Ends/Friday, July 24, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260724_12513.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (July 20) announced that a sample of iron goddess basque burnt cheesecake was found to contain an excessive amount of Bacillus cereus. The CFS is following up on the incident.A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS collected the above-mentioned sample from a bakery in Causeway Bay for testing. The test result showed that the sample contained Bacillus cereus at a level of 280 000 per gram. According to the Microbiological Guidelines for Food, if ready-to-eat food contains Bacillus cereus at a level of more than 100 000 per gram, it is considered unsatisfactory."The CFS instantly sent staff to the bakery concerned for an investigation, and has informed it of the irregularity. The bakery concerned has stopped selling and discarded the affected product according to the CFS's instruction. The CFS has also provided education on food safety and hygiene to the staff of the bakery concerned, and requested that they carry out thorough cleaning and disinfection."Bacillus cereus is commonly found in the environment. Unhygienic conditions in food processing and storage may give rise to its growth. Consuming food contaminated with excessive Bacillus cereus or its heat-stable toxins may cause gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting and diarrhoea," the spokesman said.According to section 54 of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132), all food available for sale in Hong Kong, locally produced or imported, should be fit for human consumption. An offender is subject to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months upon conviction.The CFS will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action. The investigation is ongoing. Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260720_12507.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (July 15) that a sample of prepackaged crushed red pepper and a sample of prepackaged oregano were found to contain a pesticide, ethylene oxide. Members of the public should not consume the affected products. The trade should also stop using or selling the affected products immediately if they possess them. Product details are as follows: Product name: Crushed Red PepperBrand: Spice HunterPlace of origin: The United StatesNet weight: 36 grams Best-before date: November 15, 2027Distributor: V-Care Asia Ltd.Hotline: 2365 9985 Product name: Organic OreganoBrand: BarnesPlace of origin: IndiaNet weight: 24 gramsBest-before date: June 15, 2027Distributor: Co Op Buy Ltd. Hotline: 9015 9022 A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS collected the above-mentioned samples from two online vendors for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test results showed that the samples contained a pesticide, ethylene oxide. The CFS has informed the vendors concerned of the irregularity and instructed them to stop sales and remove from shelves the affected products. According to the CFS's instructions, the distributors concerned have initiated recalls on the affected products. Members of the public may call the respective hotlines above during office hours for enquiries about the recalls of the products concerned." The spokesman continued, "According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, ethylene oxide is genotoxic and has been classified as a Group 1 carcinogen. According to the Pesticide Residues in Food Regulation (Cap. 132CM), a food for human consumption containing pesticide residue may only be sold if consumption of the food is not dangerous or prejudicial to health. An offender is liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and to imprisonment for six months upon conviction." The CFS will alert the trade, continue to follow up on the incidents and take appropriate action. The investigation is ongoing. Ends/Wednesday, July 15, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260715_12501.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (July 10) that a sample of locally manufactured tofu-flavoured ice-cream was found to contain coliform bacteria and its count exceeding the legal limit. The CFS is following up on the incident. A spokesman for the CFS said, "In view of hot weather, CFS has been enhancing surveillance of frozen confection. The CFS collected the above-mentioned ice-cream sample from a permitted premises for sales of frozen confections in Kwun Tong for testing. The test result showed that the sample contained 1,200 coliform bacteria per gram, exceeding the legal limit." "The CFS has informed the premises concerned of the irregularity and instructed it to stop selling and to dispose all the affected ice-cream immediately. The CFS has also provided health education on food safety and hygiene to the person-in-charge and staff of the premises, who have also been requested to carry out thorough cleaning and disinfection of the premises," the spokesman said. Under the Frozen Confections Regulation (Cap. 132AC), frozen confection for sale should not contain more than 100 coliform bacteria per gram. The maximum penalty for offenders is a fine of $10,000 and three months' imprisonment upon conviction. The fact that the coliform count exceeded the legal limit indicated that the hygienic conditions were unsatisfactory, but did not mean that consumption would lead to food poisoning. ​The CFS will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health. Ends/Friday, July 10, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260710_12493.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (June 30) released the findings of its food safety report for last month. The results of about 6,000 food samples tested (including food items purchased online) were found to be satisfactory except for 19 unsatisfactory samples that were announced earlier. The overall satisfactory rate was 99.7 per cent. A CFS spokesman said that about 2,100 food samples were collected for microbiological tests, and about 3,900 samples were taken for chemical and radiation level tests. The microbiological tests covered pathogens and hygiene indicators; the chemical tests included testing for pesticides, preservatives, metallic contaminants, colouring matters, veterinary drug residues and others; and the radiation-level tests included testing for radioactive caesium and iodine in samples collected from imported food from different regions. The samples comprised about 1,400 samples of vegetables and fruit and their products; about 500 samples of cereals, grains and their products; about 600 samples of meat and poultry and their products; about 1,100 samples of milk, milk products and frozen confections; about 900 samples of aquatic and related products; and about 1,500 samples of other food commodities (including beverages, bakery products and snacks). The 19 unsatisfactory samples were a prepackaged dried lily bulb sample and a prepackaged dried porcini sample detected with metallic contaminants exceeding the legal limits; a tomato sample detected with a pesticide residue exceeding the legal limit; a beef congee sample found to contain sulphur dioxide; a beef skewer sample detected with a preservative exceeding the legal limit; a prepackaged pork floss sample detected with an antioxidant exceeding the legal limit; two soft ice-cream samples, a frozen confection sample and two imported frozen confection samples detected with coliform bacteria counts exceeding the legal limits; five imported frozen confection samples detected with coliform bacteria and total bacterial counts exceeding the legal limits; two bottled mineral water samples found to contain a trace amount of Enterococci; and a growing up formula powder sample found with the possible presence of Cereulide produced by Bacillus cereus. The CFS has taken follow-up actions on the above-mentioned unsatisfactory samples, including informing the vendors concerned of the test results, instructing them to stop selling the affected food items, and tracing the sources of the food items in question. The spokesman reminded the food trade to ensure that food is fit for human consumption and meets legal requirements. Consumers should patronise reliable shops when buying food and maintain a balanced diet to minimise food risks. Separately, in response to the Japanese Government's discharge of nuclear-contaminated water at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station, the CFS will continue enhancing the testing on imported Japanese food, and make reference to the risk assessment results to adjust relevant surveillance work in a timely manner. The CFS will announce every working day on its dedicated webpage (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/programme/programme_rafs/daily_japan_nuclear_incidents.html) the radiological test results of the samples of food imported from Japan, with a view to enabling the trade and members of the public to have a better grasp of the latest safety information. Ends/Tuesday, June 30, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260630_12482.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (June 26) urged the public not to consume a kind of prepackaged frozen sardines as it was found to contain histamine. The trade should stop using or selling the affected product immediately if they possess it. Product details are as follows: Product name: FZ Atlantic Northeast Wild Caught Sardine FilletBrand: FZ Place of origin: FranceNet Weight: 200 grams per packBest-before date: March 28, 2027Retailer: Foodie Yard by HKTVmall A CFS spokesman said, "The CFS collected the abovementioned frozen sardine sample from an online vendor for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained histamine at a level of 1,100 milligrams per kilogram." "The CFS has informed the vendor concerned of the irregularities. The vendor has removed from shelves and stopped sale of the affected product, and initiated a recall according to the CFS' instructions. Members of the public may call the vendor's hotline at 6892 2227 during office hours for enquiries about the recall," the spokesman added. The spokesman said that histamine is commonly found in certain kinds of fish such as tuna, sardine, mackerel and anchovy, as a result of bacterial spoilage. Consumption of fish containing high levels of histamine can cause foodborne intoxication. Symptoms of histamine poisoning include tingling and burning sensations around the mouth, facial flushing and sweating, nausea, vomiting, headache, palpitations, dizziness and rash. The onset of intoxication symptoms is within a few hours after consumption, and these symptoms will normally disappear within 12 hours without long-term effects, the spokesman noted. ​The CFS will alert the trade to the incident and will continue to monitor the case and take appropriate follow-up action. The investigation is ongoing. Ends/Friday, June 26, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260626_12472.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (June 25) announced that an imported crab sample from Vietnam was detected to contain cadmium, a metallic contaminant, at a level exceeding the legal limit. The CFS is following up on the incident. "The CFS collected the above-mentioned crab sample at the import level for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained cadmium at a level of 5.2 parts per million (ppm), exceeding the legal limit of 2 ppm," the CFS spokesman said. "Long-term excessive intake of cadmium may affect the kidney functions. The CFS has informed the importer concerned of the irregularity and instructed it to stop sales and remove from shelves the affected product. The CFS is also tracing the source and distribution of the product concerned," the spokesman added. According to the Food Adulteration (Metallic Contamination) Regulations (Cap. 132V), any person who sells food with metallic contamination above the legal limit is liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and six months' imprisonment. The CFS will alert the Vietnamese authorities and the trade, continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action. The investigation is ongoing. Ends/Thursday, June 25, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260625_12468.html)

The Centre for Food Safety of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (June 19) that, following the notification from the Shenzhen authority of the resumption of clearance services at Man Kam To boundary control point (BCP) at 8pm yesterday (June 18), all goods vehicles carrying fresh food were allowed to resume entering Hong Kong via Man Kam To BCP last night. The temporary food control office set up at the Liantang Port (Heung Yuen Wai BCP) will continue to operate until 2pm todayto facilitate the trade. Ends/Friday, June 19, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260619_12464.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (June 18) that, in response to notification from the Shenzhen authority, fresh food clearance services at the Man Kam To boundary control point (BCP) have been suspended due to the rainstorms and flooding in the area and facilities until operations at the Shenzhen Man Kam To BCP resume. The CFS has made emergency response arrangements and flexibly deployed staff to the Inbound Cargo Examination Building at the Liantang Port (Heung Yuen Wai BCP) to set up a temporary food control office for the clearance of vehicles carrying fresh food. In addition, vehicles carrying fresh food may also enter Hong Kong via the Hong Kong Port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. The CFS will continue to maintain close liaison and co-ordination with the relevant authority. Ends/Thursday, June 18, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260618_12462.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (June 12) announced the results of a recently completed seasonal food surveillance project on rice dumplings. Of the 160 samples tested, one prepackaged rice dumpling sample was found with a total fat content inconsistent with the declared value on its nutrition label that was announced earlier. The remaining samples passed the tests. The CFS has taken follow-up actions on the above-mentioned unsatisfactory sample, and the vendor concerned has also stopped selling the relevant batch of the affected product. Prosecution will be instituted should there be sufficient evidence. Rice dumplings are a popular festive food for the Tuen Ng Festival. The project aims to provide information on safe consumption of rice dumplings to consumers and the trade in a timely manner. "The CFS collected samples of rice dumplings from different retail outlets (including online retailers and online food delivery platforms) and food premises (including restaurants and food factories) for chemical, microbiological and nutrition content analyses. The chemical analyses included tests for colouring matters, preservatives, metallic contamination, mineral oil, antioxidants, sweeteners and pesticide residues. The microbiological analyses covered pathogenic bacteria including Salmonella, coagulase-positive staphylococci organisms, Clostridium perfringens and Bacillus cereus. In addition, nutrition contents such as energy contents, protein, carbohydrates, total fat, saturated fatty acids, trans fatty acids, sodium and sugars of the samples were also tested to check whether the test results complied with their declared values on the nutrition labels," a spokesman for the CFS said. The spokesman reminded members of the public to observe the following food safety tips in purchasing, preparing, storing and consuming rice dumplings: Buying rice dumplings------------------------* Buy rice dumplings from reliable outlets;* When purchasing non-prepackaged rice dumplings, choose those that are securely wrapped in wrapping leaves; and* When purchasing prepackaged rice dumplings, check the expiry date and whether the packaging is intact. Home-made rice dumplings-----------------------------* Buy wrapping leaves from reliable suppliers and avoid leaves that are unnaturally bright green or with chemical odours;* Wash hands and utensils thoroughly before and after handling food; and* Handle raw and cooked food separately to avoid cross-contamination. Storing and preparing rice dumplings---------------------------------------* Consume rice dumplings as soon as possible and avoid prolonged storage;* Both the glutinous rice and the stuffing should be well covered until the rice dumplings are unwrapped. Do not come into direct contact with the strings upon cooking to prevent contamination at all times.* Store rice dumplings at 4 degrees Celsius or below, or store them properly according to the instructions on the package if they are not consumed or cooked immediately;* Keep cooked rice dumplings that are not consumed immediately in a covered container and put them in the upper compartment of the refrigerator. Keep raw food in the lower compartment to prevent cross-contamination;* Reheat rice dumplings thoroughly until the core temperature reaches 75 degrees C or above before consumption;* Do not reheat rice dumplings more than once; and* Consume reheated rice dumplings as soon as possible. Consuming rice dumplings----------------------------* Wash hands with running water and liquid soap, and rub for at least 20 seconds before consumption; and* Reduce seasonings such as soy sauce or granulated sugar during consumption. The spokesman said, "Rice dumplings in general are relatively high in energy, fat and salt. During the festival, people should maintain a balanced diet, and consume rice dumplings moderately, with due consideration of their health condition. People are recommended to share rice dumplings with their family members and friends, as this not only enhances the festive atmosphere, but also allows them to taste rice dumplings of different flavours and avoid over-consumption. People are also advised to make use of nutrition labels on prepackaged food to compare their nutritional contents for healthier food choices." The spokesman also reminded the food trade to purchase food ingredients from reliable suppliers and maintain proper records to facilitate source tracing when necessary. They should follow Good Manufacturing Practice in the preparation of food products and comply with legal requirements when using food additives. The spokesman advised the food trade to adopt the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point System to identify, assess and control possible hazards in the food production process. Ends/Friday, June 12, 2026 The Centre for Food Safety of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (June 12) announced the test results of the seasonal food surveillance project on rice dumplings. Of the 160 samples tested, one sample was found with a total fat content inconsistent with the declared value on its nutrition label. The remaining samples passed the tests. Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260612_12450.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (June 12) that subsequent to an earlier announcement that two beef samples collected from a licensed food factory in North District were found to contain sulphur dioxide, the CFS collected additional beef samples for follow-up investigation at the same food factory before it stopped sale of the products concerned and disposed of the raw materials as instructed by the CFS. The results revealed that two beef samples were found to contain sulphur dioxide, contravening the provisions on preservative of the Preservatives in Food Regulation (Cap. 132BD) (the Regulation). The CFS is following up on the incident. The food factory concerned continues to suspend its business. A spokesman for the CFS said, "When the CFS followed up on the relevant case earlier, two beef samples collected from the food factory before it stopped sales of the products concerned and disposed of the raw materials were found to contain sulphur dioxide at levels of 1 200 parts per million (ppm) and 4 800 ppm respectively." The CFS has informed the food factory concerned of the irregularities. Upon the CFS's earlier instruction, the person-in-charge of the food factory has already stopped the sale of the products concerned and disposed of the relevant raw materials on the same day after sampling by the CFS. The relevant raw materials had not been released to the market. According to the Regulation, contravening relevant provisions on preservatives is liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and six months' imprisonment. Sulphur dioxide is a preservative which can be used in a variety of foods including dried vegetables, dried fruits, pickled vegetables and salted fish products, but under the Regulation it is not permitted in fresh or chilled meat. Individual meat traders have been found illegally using sulphur dioxide to make meat look fresher. Sulphur dioxide is water-soluble, and most of it can be removed through washing and cooking. However, susceptible individuals who are allergic to this preservative may experience breathing difficulties, headaches and nausea after consumption. ​The CFS will continue to follow up on the incidents and take appropriate action. Prosecution will be instituted for the violation of the Regulation. The investigation is ongoing. Ends/Friday, June 12, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260612_12452.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department kicked off its Food Safety Day 2026 promotional campaign today (June 7). With "handwashing" as the core theme, a series of thematic short videos, social media posts, and posters, will be launched to highlight the importance of maintaining hand hygiene in preventing foodborne diseases, and to echo World Food Safety Day of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Health Organization. Maintaining proper hand hygiene remains one of the most effective measures for preventing foodborne diseases and safeguarding food safety. Unclean hands of food handlers may transfer harmful microorganisms, including foodborne pathogens and antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, from bacterial carriers or raw food to utensils, surfaces and ready-to-eat food. A spokesman for the CFS said, "Food handlers should wash their hands thoroughly with liquid soap and water, as alcohol hand sanitisers work less effectively at removing grease, dirt and certain foodborne microorganisms. When washing hands, the rubbing process should last for at least 20 seconds. To prevent the spread of preventable infectious diseases, handwashing should be carried out before and after handling food, before putting on gloves and after removing them." The spokesman also reminded food handlers to wash their hands whenever possibly contaminated, such as after touching the face, coughing, sneezing, using the toilet, smoking, and handling money, waste, mobile phones, chemicals or raw food ingredients, as well as after completing cleaning tasks. Members of the public are also reminded that wearing gloves cannot replace proper handwashing. Food handlers and the public should maintain good personal hygiene practices and adopt appropriate hygiene measures when preparing food, thereby reducing the risk of foodborne diseases and curbing the emergence of antimicrobial resistance. For more information about Food Safety Day 2026, please visit the CFS website at www.cfs.gov.hk/english/whatsnew/whatsnew_act/Food_Safety_Day_2026.html. Ends/Sunday, June 7, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260607_12444.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (June 6) that two beef samples collected from a licensed food factory in North District were found to contain sulphur dioxide, contravening the provisions on preservative of the Preservatives in Food Regulation (Cap. 132BD) (the Regulation). The CFS is following up on the incident. The food factory concerned has suspended its business. A spokesman for the CFS said, "Subsequent to the earlier announcement that a beef congee sample taken from a licensed general restaurant in Wah Kwai Estate, Aberdeen, was found to contain sulphur dioxide, a follow-up investigation by the CFS revealed that the beef concerned was suspected to be supplied by the licensed food factory mentioned above. The CFS has immediately taken follow-up action and collected beef samples from the relevant food factory for testing. The test results showed that the two beef samples contained sulphur dioxide at a level of 7,700 parts per million (ppm) and 8 300 ppm respectively." "As instructed by the CFS, the concerned licensed general restaurant in Wah Kwai Estate, Aberdeen has earlier stopped the sale of the relevant beef congee. The CFS had collected another beef congee sample for follow-up investigation before the restaurant concerned stopped selling the relevant product, and the test result showed that the beef congee sample contained sulphur dioxide at a level of 540 ppm," the spokesman added. The CFS has informed the food factory concerned of the irregularities and instructed it to stop the sale of the products concerned and discard relevant raw materials. During an inspection to the food factory concerned, stains were detected in several areas of the premises, and a gap at the door was found. Prosecution was then initiated to the relevant person; and a Notice of Elimination of Vermin was issued under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132) Section 47(1), requiring the person-in-charge of the premises to adopt necessary procedures to remove any items causing rodent infestation within specified time frame, failing which prosecution will be instituted. According to the Regulation, contravening relevant provisions on preservatives is liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and six months' imprisonment. Sulphur dioxide is a preservative which can be used in a variety of foods including dried vegetables, dried fruits, pickled vegetables and salted fish products, but under the Regulation it is not permitted in fresh or chilled meat. Individual meat traders have been found illegally using sulphur dioxide to make meat look fresher. Sulphur dioxide is water-soluble, and most of it can be removed through washing and cooking. However, susceptible individuals who are allergic to this preservative may experience breathing difficulties, headaches and nausea after consumption. The CFS will continue to follow up on the incidents and take appropriate action. Prosecution will be instituted for the violation of the Regulation. The investigation is ongoing. Ends/Saturday, June 6, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260606_12442.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (June 5) that a sample of locally manufactured soft ice-cream was found to contain coliform bacteria and its count exceeding the legal limit. The CFS is following up on the incident. A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS collected the above-mentioned soft ice-cream sample from a licensed frozen confection factory in Sha Tin for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained 160 coliform bacteria per gram, exceeding the legal limit." "The CFS has informed the frozen confection factory concerned of the irregularity and instructed it to stop selling and to dispose all the affected soft ice-cream immediately. The CFS has also provided health education on food safety and hygiene to the person-in-charge and staff of the frozen confection factory, who have also been requested to carry out thorough cleaning and disinfection of the premises," the spokesman said. Under the Frozen Confections Regulation (Cap. 132AC), frozen confection for sale should not contain more than 100 coliform bacteria per gram. The maximum penalty for offenders is a fine of $10,000 and three months' imprisonment upon conviction. The fact that the coliform count exceeded the legal limit indicated that the hygienic conditions were unsatisfactory, but did not mean that consumption would lead to food poisoning. ​The CFS will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health. Ends/Friday, June 5, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260605_12437.html)

As summer is approaching, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) and the Environmental Hygiene Branch of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) launched joint operations last week to step up inspections of relevant frozen confection factories across various districts in Hong Kong. A spokesman for the FEHD said today (June 3), "The FEHD has been stepping up inspections of licensed frozen confection outlets that manufacture frozen confections for customers' immediate consumption at the retail level across districts in Hong Kong since last week. The inspections focus on the cleaning and disinfection of mixing and dispensing machines and utensils, ensuring that premises comply with relevant licensing conditions and meet statutory hygiene standards in the handling and manufacturing of frozen confections. Meanwhile, FEHD staff will also provide health education to responsible persons and food handlers." In addition, the CFS has issued a letter to all licensed frozen confection factories across Hong Kong, reminding them of the precautions to take when manufacturing frozen confections. The CFS has also published the "Frozen Confections Prepared at Points of Sale for Immediate Consumption - Food Safety Guidelines for Food Businesses", which serves as a reference for food business operators manufacturing ice cream and other similar frozen confections at the retail level. This set of guidelines aims to assist them in implementing food safety measures in their operations in order to prepare and provide safe frozen confections for customers. For further details, please visit the CFS website (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/multimedia/multimedia_pub/files/Frozen_Confections_Prepared_at_POS_Guideline_e.pdf). Ends/Wednesday, June 3, 2026 The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has been stepping up inspections of licensed frozen confection outlets that manufacture frozen confections for customers' immediate consumption at the retail level across districts in Hong Kong since last week, with a view to ensuring food safety. Photo shows FEHD staff providing health education to a food handler during an inspection. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has been stepping up inspections of licensed frozen confection outlets that manufacture frozen confections for customers' immediate consumption at the retail level across districts in Hong Kong since last week, with a view to ensuring food safety. Photo shows FEHD staff providing health education to a food handler during an inspection. Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260603_12433.html)

The Government proposes to amend the Sweeteners in Food Regulations (Cap.132U), with a view to better protecting public health and harmonising with international standards. The Environment and Ecology Bureau and the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department will first consult the Legislative Council Panel on Food Safety and Environmental Hygiene on June 9 (see Annex for the discussion paper) and plan to conduct a public consultation within this year. Sweeteners are food additives that impart a sweet taste to food in place of sugars. Like other food additives, sweeteners are permitted for use only after stringent safety evaluations that demonstrate they are fit for consumption. When reviewing the Regulations and formulating the proposed amendments, the Government has taken into account the standards established by the Codex Alimentarius Commission and Mainland standards, the dietary habits and intake of the local population, as well as the practices of other major food trading partners of Hong Kong. The proposed amendments are supported by the Expert Committee on Food Safety. A Government spokesman said, "The proposed amendments mainly include bringing polyhydric alcohols under the regulatory scope, expanding the list of permitted sweeteners and setting maximum permitted levels (MPLs) for different 'sweetener-food' pairs. The CFS has collected food samples from the local market to analyse their sweetener content. Among some 900 tests conducted, about 98 per cent were in compliance with the proposed MPLs. We are confident that the food trade can adapt to the proposed amendments, and propose to provide a transitional period following the completion of the legislative process. The CFS will also conduct technical meetings for the trade and issue user guidelines to facilitate the trade in understanding and complying with the new requirements." The Government plans to consult the public on the proposed amendments to the Regulations within this year, and will consider the feedback received to prepare the subsidiary legislation to amend the Regulations for tabling at the Legislative Council for scrutiny. Ends/Tuesday, June 2, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260602_12431.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department said today (May 31) that the CFS collects powdered infant and young children formula under its Food Surveillance Programme. The test results revealed that a sample collected from a retail outlet possibly contained the heat-stable toxin Cereulide produced by Bacillus cereus. For the sake of prudence, and as a precautionary measure, the CFS has instructed the retailer and importer concerned to stop sales and remove from shelves the affected batch of the product concerned. The retailer and importer have also initiated a precautionary recall. Product details of the batch of the growing up formula powder are as follows: Product name: Aronurish Growing Up Formula PowderBrand: AronurishPlace of origin: Inner MongoliaPack size: 750 gramsManufacture date: April 23, 2025Best-before date: April 22, 2027Importer: Hong Kong Golden Nutrition Trading Co., Limited A preliminary investigation by the CFS has found that the above mentioned importer had imported 220 boxes of 1 320 cans of the affected product. The CFS has been jointly following up with the retailer and the importer concerned and had already marked and sealed about 488 cans of the suspected affected batch of product. Members of the public may call the retailer's hotline at 2299 3398/ email：cs@mannings.com.hk/ WhatsApp：5423 2088 during office hours for enquiries about the recall. Bacillus cereus is commonly found in the environment. Unhygienic conditions in food processing and storage may give rise to its growth. Cereulide is a heat-stable toxin produced in food by some strains of Bacillus cereus. Consuming food contaminated with excessive Bacillus cereus or its heat-stable toxins may cause gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting and diarrhoea. In most cases, these symptoms usually subside spontaneously within 24 hours. As a precautionary measure, the CFS urged members of the public not to let infants and young children consume the affected batch of the product, and to seek medical treatment for infants or young children who felt unwell after taking the product concerned. The trade should also stop using or selling the affected batch of the product immediately. According to the record, at present, no relevant food complaint cases have been recorded. The CFS has alerted the trade and relevant department over the incident, and will continue to follow up and take appropriate action. The CFS will continue to enhance the surveillance on powered formula. Ends/Sunday, May 31, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260601_12425.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (May 29) released the findings of its food safety report for last month. The results of about 4,400 food samples tested (including food items purchased online) were found to be satisfactory except for two unsatisfactory samples that were announced earlier. The overall satisfactory rate was 99.9 per cent. A CFS spokesman said that about 1,300 food samples were collected for microbiological tests, and about 3,100 samples were taken for chemical and radiation level tests. The microbiological tests covered pathogens and hygiene indicators; the chemical tests included testing for pesticides, preservatives, metallic contaminants, colouring matters, veterinary drug residues and others; and the radiation-level tests included testing for radioactive caesium and iodine in samples collected from imported food from different regions. The samples comprised about 1,500 samples of vegetables and fruit and their products; about 200 samples of cereals, grains and their products; about 400 samples of meat and poultry and their products; about 700 samples of milk, milk products and frozen confections; about 600 samples of aquatic and related products; and about 1,000 samples of other food commodities (including beverages, bakery products and snacks). The two unsatisfactory samples were an imported blue crab sample detected with a metallic contaminant exceeding the legal limit and an ice-cream sample detected with coliform bacteria count exceeding the legal limit. The CFS has taken follow-up actions on the above-mentioned unsatisfactory samples, including informing the vendors concerned of the test results, instructing them to stop selling the affected food items, and tracing the sources of the food items in question. The spokesman reminded the food trade to ensure that food is fit for human consumption and meets legal requirements. Consumers should patronise reliable shops when buying food and maintain a balanced diet to minimise food risks. Separately, in response to the Japanese Government's discharge of nuclear-contaminated water at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station, the CFS will continue enhancing the testing on imported Japanese food, and make reference to the risk assessment results to adjust relevant surveillance work in a timely manner. The CFS will announce every working day on its dedicated webpage (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/programme/programme_rafs/daily_japan_nuclear_incidents.html) the radiological test results of the samples of food imported from Japan, with a view to enabling the trade and members of the public to have a better grasp of the latest safety information. Ends/Friday, May 29, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260529_12419.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (May 28) that two samples of bottled mineral water were found to contain trace amount of Enterococci. The CFS is following up on the incident. A spokesman for the CFS said, "Under its routine Food Surveillance Programme, the CFS collected bottled mineral water samples at retail level for microbiological testing, including tests for Escherichia coli, Coliform bacteria, Enterococci, Spore-forming sulphite-reducing anaerobes and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The test results showed that two samples of the individual batches of bottled mineral water below contained Enterococci at a level of one Colony Forming Unit in 250 millilitres, while all other tested parameters (Escherichia coli, coliform bacteria, Spore-forming sulphite-reducing anaerobes and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) were satisfactory (i.e. not detected). According to the Microbiological Guidelines for Food, Enterococci shall not be tested presence in bottled natural mineral water. As a precautionary measure, the CFS has informed the retailers/distributors concerned to stop sales and remove from shelves the affected batches of the products below. The distributors concerned have also initiated voluntary recalls of the affected batches of the products concerned. Members of the public may call the respective hotlines below during office hours for enquiries about the recalls. Product details are as follows: Product name: Still Scottish Mountain WaterBrand: Marks & SpencerVolume: 750mlBest-before date: December 2026Distributor: ALF Retail Hong Kong LimitedHotline: 3656 2253 Product name: LOTTE ICIS Natural Mineral Water 8.0Brand: LotteVolume: 2 litresBest-before date: September 22, 2027Distributor: Goldtop Century LtdHotline: 2632 7373 Since January 2026, the CFS has collected 50 samples of bottled drinking water for testing. Apart from the two unsatisfactory samples mentioned above, all other samples passed the tests. "Enterococci are a group of bacteria commonly found in the gastrointestinal tracts of humans and animals, generally posing a low risk to healthy individuals. However, certain strains may cause infections in immunocompromised individuals. Members of the public should stop consuming the affected batches of the natural mineral water. Anyone who feels unwell after consuming the products, such as experiencing symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea or fever etc, should seek medical treatment," a spokesman for the CFS said. The CFS had alert the trade, and will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action. An investigation is ongoing. Ends/Thursday, May 28, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260528_12417.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (May 27) that a beef congee sample was found to contain sulphur dioxide, contravening the provisions on preservative of the Preservatives in Food Regulation (Cap. 132BD) (the Regulation). The CFS is following up on the incident. A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS, under its routine Food Surveillance Programme, took the beef congee sample from a licensed general restaurant in Wah Kwai Estate, Aberdeen, for testing. The test result showed that the sample contained sulphur dioxide at a level of 680 parts per million." "The CFS has informed the restaurant concerned of the irregularity and instructed it to stop sale the product concerned and discard relevant raw materials," the spokesman added. According to the Regulation, contravening relevant provisions on preservatives is liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and six months' imprisonment. Sulphur dioxide is a preservative which can be used in a variety of foods including dried vegetables, dried fruits, pickled vegetables and salted fish products, but under the Regulation it is not permitted in fresh or chilled meat. Individual meat traders have been found illegally using sulphur dioxide to make meat look fresher. Sulphur dioxide is water-soluble, and most of it can be removed through washing and cooking. However, susceptible individuals who are allergic to this preservative may experience breathing difficulties, headaches and nausea after consumption. The CFS will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action. The investigation is ongoing. Ends/Wednesday, May 27, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260527_12413.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (May 22) said that subsequent to an announcement yesterday (May 21) that a soft ice-cream sample from a licensed itinerant hawker (mobile van) in Central was found to contain coliform bacteria exceeding the legal limit, a follow-up investigation showed that another soft ice-cream sample collected from the same mobile van was also found to contain coliform bacteria exceeding the legal limit. This sample was collected before preventive and control measures instituted by the CFS. The follow-up investigation is ongoing. A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS again collected soft ice-cream sample from the mobile van concerned for testing when following up on the related incident yesterday. The test result showed that the sample contained 540 coliform bacteria per gram, exceeding the legal limit. Prosecution will be instituted should there be sufficient evidence. "The CFS has conducted follow-up investigation of the mobile van concerned again. According to the CFS's advice, the person-in-charge of the licence concerned has already disposed all the affected soft ice-cream and suspended the operation of the mobile van concerned since yesterday and carried out thorough cleaning and disinfection. The CFS has also provided health education on food safety and hygiene to the person-in-charge of the licence concerned to ensure that the person-in-charge has adopted relevant improvement measures," the spokesman said. Under the Frozen Confections Regulation (Cap. 132AC), frozen confection for sale should not contain more than 100 coliform bacteria per gram. The maximum penalty for offenders is a fine of $10,000 and three months' imprisonment upon conviction. The fact that the coliform count exceeded the legal limit indicated that the hygienic conditions were unsatisfactory, but did not mean that consumption would lead to food poisoning. The CFS will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health. Ends/Friday, May 22, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260522_12409.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (May 21) that a sample of soft ice-cream was found to contain coliform bacteria and its count exceeding the legal limit. The CFS is following up on the incident. A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS collected the above-mentioned soft ice-cream sample from a licensed itinerant hawker (mobile van) in Central for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained 310 coliform bacteria per gram, exceeding the legal limit." "The CFS has informed the person-in-charge of the licence concerned of the irregularity and instructed the person-in-charge to stop selling and to dispose all the affected soft ice-cream immediately. The CFS has also provided health education on food safety and hygiene to person-in-charge of the licence concerned, and instructed to carry out thorough cleaning and disinfection to the mobile van," the spokesman said. Under the Frozen Confections Regulation (Cap. 132AC), frozen confection for sale should not contain more than 100 coliform bacteria per gram. The maximum penalty for offenders is a fine of $10,000 and three months' imprisonment upon conviction. The fact that the coliform count exceeded the legal limit indicated that the hygienic conditions were unsatisfactory, but did not mean that consumption would lead to food poisoning. The CFS will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health. Ends/Thursday, May 21, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260521_12405.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (May 20) that an aquatic product from a regulated Japanese prefecture was suspected to be in breach of the relevant Food Safety Order when the CFS inspected food imported from Japan. The product concerned has been marked and sealed by the CFS and has not entered the market. The CFS is following up on the case. A spokesman for the CFS said, "During an inspection of a consignment of food imported from Japan, the CFS found four packs of sea urchin, manufactured in Miyagi Prefecture after the Order was issued. The importer concerned is thus suspected of breaching the relevant Order." According to the Order, all aquatic products originating from 10 metropolis/prefectures, namely Tokyo, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Miyagi, Chiba, Gunma, Tochigi, Niigata, Nagano and Saitama, are prohibited from being imported into and supplied in Hong Kong if they are harvested, manufactured, processed or packed on or after August 24, 2023, including all live, chilled, frozen, dried or otherwise preserved aquatic products, sea salt, and unprocessed or processed seaweed. The CFS will continue to follow up on this incident and take appropriate action, including informing the Japanese authorities concerned of the incident. Prosecution will be instituted against the importer concerned should there be sufficient evidence. The investigation is ongoing. Ends/Wednesday, May 20, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260520_12401.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (May 15) that samples of two kinds of frozen confections imported from Malaysia were found to contain coliform bacteria and total bacterial counts exceeding the legal limits. The affected products have been marked and sealed and have not entered the market. The CFS is following up on the incident. Product details are as follows: Product name: Musang King Durian GelatoBrand: Durian BabyPlace of origin: MalaysiaPack size: 75 grams per boxImporter: DB & FRIENDS (HK) LIMITEDBest-before date: September 26, 2027 Product name: D24 Durian GelatoBrand: Durian BabyPlace of origin: MalaysiaPack size: 75 grams per boxImporter: DB & FRIENDS (HK) LIMITEDBest-before date: September 18, 2027 A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS collected samples of the two kinds of frozen confections mentioned above at the import level for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test results showed that two samples of the Musang King Durian Gelato contained 130 and 140 coliform bacteria per gram respectively, whereas five samples of the D24 Durian Gelato contained coliform bacteria ranging between 210 and 7 200 per gram and total bacterial counts ranging between 84 000 and 160 000 per gram. All are above the legal limits." "The CFS has informed the importer concerned of the above irregularities. The affected products have all been marked and sealed, and have not entered the market. The CFS will temporarily suspend the permission to import for sale of the products concerned granted earlier to the importer," the spokesman said. Under the Frozen Confections Regulation (Cap. 132AC), frozen confections for sale should not contain more than 100 coliform bacteria per gram or more than 50 000 bacteria per gram. The maximum penalty for offenders is a fine of $10,000 and three months' imprisonment upon conviction. The fact that the coliform count and the total bacterial count exceeded the legal limit indicated that the hygienic conditions were unsatisfactory, but did not mean that consumption would lead to food poisoning. The CFS will inform the Malaysian authority of the incident, and will continue to follow up on the case and take appropriate actions to safeguard food safety and public health. Ends/Friday, May 15, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260515_12391.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (May 12) that a sample of frozen confection was found to contain coliform bacteria and its count exceeding the legal limit. The CFS is following up on the incident. A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS collected the above-mentioned frozen confection sample from a licensed frozen confection factory in Tsim Sha Tsui for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained 240 coliform bacteria per gram, exceeding the legal limit." "The CFS has informed the frozen confection factory concerned of the irregularity and instructed it to stop selling and to dispose all the affected frozen confection immediately. The CFS has also provided health education on food safety and hygiene to the person-in-charge and staff of the frozen confection factory, who have also been requested to carry out thorough cleaning and disinfection of the premises," the spokesman said. Under the Frozen Confections Regulation (Cap. 132AC), frozen confection for sale should not contain more than 100 coliform bacteria per gram. The maximum penalty for offenders is a fine of $10,000 and three months' imprisonment upon conviction. The fact that the coliform count exceeded the legal limit indicated that the hygienic conditions were unsatisfactory, but did not mean that consumption would lead to food poisoning. The CFS will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health. Ends/Tuesday, May 12, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260512_12386.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (May 5) that an aquatic product from a regulated Japanese prefecture was suspected to be in breach of the relevant Food Safety Order when the CFS inspected food imported from Japan. The product concerned has been marked and sealed by the CFS and has not entered the market. The CFS is following up on the case. A spokesman for the CFS said, "During an inspection of the concerned consignment of food imported from Japan, the CFS found a batch of smoked salmon manufactured, processed and packed in Ibaraki Prefecture after the Order was issued. The importer concerned is thus suspected of breaching the relevant Order." According to the Order, all aquatic products originating from 10 metropolis/prefectures, namely Tokyo, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Miyagi, Chiba, Gunma, Tochigi, Niigata, Nagano and Saitama, are prohibited from being imported into and supplied in Hong Kong if they are harvested, manufactured, processed or packed on or after August 24, 2023, including all live, chilled, frozen, dried or otherwise preserved aquatic products, sea salt, and unprocessed or processed seaweed. ​The CFS will continue to follow up on this incident and take appropriate action, including informing the Japanese authorities concerned of the incident. Prosecution will be instituted against the importer concerned should there be sufficient evidence. The investigation is ongoing. Ends/Tuesday, May 5, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260505_12374.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (April 30) released the findings of its food safety report for last month. The results of about 5,300 food samples tested (including food items purchased online) were found to be satisfactory except for two unsatisfactory samples that were announced earlier. The overall satisfactory rate was 99.9 per cent. A CFS spokesman said that about 1,400 food samples were collected for microbiological tests, and about 3,900 samples were taken for chemical and radiation level tests. The microbiological tests covered pathogens and hygiene indicators; the chemical tests included testing for pesticides, preservatives, metallic contaminants, colouring matters, veterinary drug residues and others; and the radiation-level tests included testing for radioactive caesium and iodine in samples collected from imported food from different regions. The samples comprised about 1,400 samples of vegetables and fruit and their products; about 500 samples of cereals, grains and their products; about 800 samples of meat and poultry and their products; about 900 samples of milk, milk products and frozen confections; about 700 samples of aquatic and related products; and about 1,000 samples of other food commodities (including beverages, bakery products and snacks). The two unsatisfactory samples were a taro sample detected with a metallic contaminant exceeding the legal limit and a bottled apple juice drink sample detected with a patulin concentration exceeding the legal limit. The CFS has taken follow-up actions on the above-mentioned unsatisfactory samples, including informing the vendors concerned of the test results, instructing them to stop selling the affected food items, and tracing the sources of the food items in question. The spokesman reminded the food trade to ensure that food is fit for human consumption and meets legal requirements. Consumers should patronise reliable shops when buying food and maintain a balanced diet to minimise food risks. Separately, in response to the Japanese Government's discharge of nuclear-contaminated water at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station, the CFS will continue enhancing the testing on imported Japanese food, and make reference to the risk assessment results to adjust relevant surveillance work in a timely manner. The CFS will announce every working day on its dedicated webpage (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/programme/programme_rafs/daily_japan_nuclear_incidents.html) the radiological test results of the samples of food imported from Japan, with a view to enabling the trade and members of the public to have a better grasp of the latest safety information. Ends/Thursday, April 30, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260430_12363.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (April 27) that a sample of locally manufactured almond-flavoured ice-cream was found to contain coliform bacteria and its count exceeding the legal limit. The CFS is following up on the incident. A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS collected the above-mentioned ice-cream sample from a licensed frozen confection factory in Sha Tin for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained 1,100 coliform bacteria per gram, exceeding the legal limit." "The CFS has informed the frozen confection factory concerned of the irregularity and instructed it to stop selling and to dispose all the affected ice-cream immediately. The CFS has also provided health education on food safety and hygiene to the person-in-charge and staff of the frozen confection factory, who have also been requested to carry out thorough cleaning and disinfection of the premises," the spokesman said. Under the Frozen Confections Regulation (Cap. 132AC), frozen confection for sale should not contain more than 100 coliform bacteria per gram. The maximum penalty for offenders is a fine of $10,000 and three months' imprisonment upon conviction. The fact that the coliform count exceeded the legal limit indicated that the hygienic conditions were unsatisfactory, but did not mean that consumption would lead to food poisoning. The CFS will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health. An investigation is ongoing. Ends/Monday, April 27, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260427_12355.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (April 20) that a kind of imported prepackaged yoghurt product might contain gluten, a known allergen, but it was not declared on the product's food label. The CFS urged consumers who are intolerant to gluten not to consume the affected batch of the product. Those who feel unwell after consuming the product concerned should seek medical treatment. The trade should also stop using or selling the affected batch of the product immediately if they possess it. Product details are as follows: Product name: Authentic Greek Yogurt with VanillaBrand: Marks & SpencerPlace of origin: GreeceImporter: Alf Retail Hong Kong LimitedPack size: 500 grams per boxUse-by date: May 12, 2026 ​"The CFS noticed that the above-mentioned batch of the product concerned might contain gluten, a known allergen, which was not declared on its food label and followed up with the relevant importer. The importer confirmed that it had imported into Hong Kong the affected batch of the product concerned, and has voluntarily stopped sales and removed from shelves the affected product and initiated a recall as a precautionary measure. Members of the public may call its hotline at 800931457 during office hours for enquiries about the recall," a spokesman for the CFS said. "Individuals who are intolerant to gluten may develop symptoms like vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and a rash upon consumption," the spokesman added. The spokesman advised those who are intolerant to gluten not to consume the affected batch of the product, and to seek medical treatment if they feel unwell after consuming the food. The trade should also stop using or selling the affected batch of the product immediately should they possess it. The Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) Regulations (Cap. 132W) require that all prepackaged food for sale in Hong Kong should list out the food ingredients in its list of ingredients. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $50,000 and six months' imprisonment. The CFS will alert the trade, continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action. An investigation is ongoing. Ends/Monday, April 20, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260420_12339.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (April 16) urged the public not to consume a kind of bottled nametake mushroom product because the product might contain glass fragments. The trade should also stop using or selling the affected batches of the product immediately if they possess any of them. Product details are as follows: Product name: JONETZ Jumbo Sized Nametake MushroomsBrand: JONETZPack size: 840 grams per bottleBest-before date: October 9, 2026 and December 7, 2026JAN code: 4549777402793Importer: Pan Pacific Retail Management (Hong Kong) Co., Limited A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS, through its Food Incident Surveillance System, noted a notification from the Japanese authority that certain batches of the above-mentioned product concerned might contain glass fragments and are being recalled. Upon learning of the incident, the CFS immediately contacted local major importers and retailers for follow-up. A preliminary investigation found that the above-mentioned importer had imported into Hong Kong and distributed the affected batches of the product concerned." The importer concerned has stopped sales, removed from shelves the affected batches of the product and has initiated a recall according to the CFS's instructions. Members of the public may call the importer's hotline at 2398 0438 during office hours for enquiries about the recall. The spokesman urged members of the public not to consume the affected batches of the product if they have bought them. The trade should also stop using or selling the product concerned immediately. The CFS will alert the trade to the incident, continue to follow up and take appropriate action. An investigation is ongoing. Ends/Thursday, April 16, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260416_12332.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (April 9) announced that an imported blue crab sample from the Philippines was detected to contain cadmium, a metallic contaminant, at a level exceeding the legal limit. The CFS is following up on the incident. "The CFS collected the above-mentioned blue crab sample at the import level for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained cadmium at a level of 4.74 parts per million (ppm), exceeding the legal limit of 2 ppm," the CFS spokesman said. "Long-term excessive intake of cadmium may affect the kidney functions. The CFS has informed the importer concerned of the irregularity and instructed it to stop sales and remove from shelves the affected product. The CFS is also tracing the source and distribution of the product concerned," the spokesman added. According to the Food Adulteration (Metallic Contamination) Regulations (Cap. 132V), any person who sells food with metallic contamination above the legal limit is liable upon conviction to a fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months. The CFS will alert the Philippine authorities and the trade, continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action. An investigation is ongoing. Ends/Thursday, April 9, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260409_12325.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (April 8) instructed the trade to suspend the import of raw oysters from French brand Josephine produced and packed between March 5 and 25, 2026. The trade should also immediately stop using or selling the batches of the product concerned produced and packed during this period should they possess any of them. A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS received a notification from the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed of the European Commission on suspected gastroenteritis cases in the Netherlands that may be related to consumption of raw oysters from French brand Josephine produced and packed between March 5 and 25, 2026. For the sake of prudence, the CFS has immediately instructed the trade to temporarily suspend the import into and sale within Hong Kong of the raw oysters concerned. As a precautionary measure, the brand concerned has voluntarily removed from shelves the raw oysters concerned. So far, the CFS has not received any referral cases of food poisoning or food complaint related to ingestion of the raw oysters concerned." The spokesman said the trade should also stop selling the raw oysters from French brand Josephine produced and packed during the above-mentioned period if they possess them. The CFS has also stepped up the collection of raw oyster samples for testing. The spokesman pointed out that as oysters feed by filtering a large volume of seawater, pathogens can accumulate in them if they are grown in or harvested from contaminated water. Raw or partially cooked oysters are high-risk foods. Susceptible groups, such as pregnant women, young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems or liver diseases, should avoid eating raw oysters. The CFS has informed the French authorities and also notified the local trade. It will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health. An investigation is ongoing. Ends/Wednesday, April 8, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260408_12322.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (April 2) released the test results of a targeted food surveillance project on the nutrition labelling of prepackaged canned fish. Among the 40 samples tested, including food items purchased online, two samples were found with total fat or sodium content inconsistent with the declared values on their nutrition labels, while the remaining 38 samples passed the test. "The CFS collected samples from different retail outlets for the targeted food surveillance project. Tests were conducted to check if the energy content and specified nutrient content (total fat, saturated fat, trans fat, sugars, sodium, protein, carbohydrates, and more) are consistent with the declared values on their nutrition labels. The food labels were also checked to see if they comply with relevant requirements under the laws," a spokesman for the CFS said. The CFS had announced the irregularities in the actual nutrient content earlier. The vendors concerned have also stopped selling the relevant batches of the affected products. Prosecution will be instituted should there be sufficient evidence. The Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) Regulations (Cap. 132W) require all applicable prepackaged foods to list the ingredients and the content of energy plus seven core nutrients, namely carbohydrates, protein, total fat, saturated fat, trans fat, sodium and sugars, and regulate any associated nutrition claims. Nutrition labelling can assist consumers in making informed food choices, encourage food manufacturers to apply sound nutrition principles in the formulation of foods, and regulate misleading or deceptive labels and claims. According to Section 61 of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132), if any person falsely describes food or misleads as to the nature, substance or quality of the food on a label of the food sold by him or her, he or she shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and six months' imprisonment upon conviction. The CFS will continue to conduct surveillance on other food samples to check if their energy content and specified nutrient content are consistent with the declared values on their nutrition labels, and the results will be released in due course. The spokesman reminded the food trade to comply with the law, and urged members of the public to pay attention to the information on nutrition labels when purchasing food to make informed food choices to achieve a balanced diet and stay healthy. Ends/Thursday, April 2, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260402_12317.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (March 31) released the findings of its food safety report for last month. The results of about 3 600 food samples tested (including food items purchased online) were found to be satisfactory except for seven unsatisfactory samples that were announced earlier. The overall satisfactory rate was 99.8 per cent. A CFS spokesman said that about 800 food samples were collected for microbiological tests, and about 2 800 samples were taken for chemical and radiation level tests. The microbiological tests covered pathogens and hygiene indicators; the chemical tests included testing for pesticides, preservatives, metallic contaminants, colouring matters, veterinary drug residues and others; and the radiation-level tests included testing for radioactive caesium and iodine in samples collected from imported food from different regions. The samples comprised about 1 400 samples of vegetables and fruit and their products; about 200 samples of cereals, grains and their products; about 400 samples of meat and poultry and their products; about 500 samples of milk, milk products and frozen confections; about 500 samples of aquatic and related products; and about 600 samples of other food commodities (including beverages, bakery products and snacks). The seven unsatisfactory samples comprised an imported live lobster sample and a prepackaged rice sample detected with metallic contaminants exceeding the legal limits, and a mango sample, a tomato sample, a cucumber sample, a chilli pepper sample and a white radish sample detected with pesticide residues exceeding the legal limits. The CFS has taken follow-up actions on the above-mentioned unsatisfactory samples, including informing the vendors concerned of the test results, instructing them to stop selling the affected food items, and tracing the sources of the food items in question. The spokesman reminded the food trade to ensure that food is fit for human consumption and meets legal requirements. Consumers should patronise reliable shops when buying food and maintain a balanced diet to minimise food risks. Separately, in response to the Japanese Government's discharge of nuclear-contaminated water at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station, the CFS will continue enhancing the testing on imported Japanese food, and make reference to the risk assessment results to adjust relevant surveillance work in a timely manner. The CFS will announce every working day on its dedicated webpage (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/programme/programme_rafs/daily_japan_nuclear_incidents.html) the radiological test results of the samples of food imported from Japan, with a view to enabling the trade and members of the public to have a better grasp of the latest safety information. Ends/Tuesday, March 31, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260331_12308.html)

A spokesman for the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department said today (March 31) that the Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) (Amendment) Regulation 2025 (Amendment Regulation), passed by the Legislative Council by negative vetting on August 20, 2025, will take effect tomorrow (April 1). The Amendment Regulation prohibits the sale of mini-cup konjac-containing jelly confectionery with a height or width not exceeding 45 millimetres in Hong Kong. In addition, other prepackaged konjac jelly products must be labelled with choking warning statements on their packaging, thereby strengthening regulation of prepackaged mini-cup-shaped konjac-containing jelly confectionery. Before the Amendment Regulation takes effect, the CFS had already carried out preparatory work last year, including holding trade meetings and issuing guidelines to facilitate the trade's understanding of and compliance with the relevant requirements. The CFS has also stepped up market surveillance to monitor the situation and remind the trade to adhere to the new regulatory requirements. The new regulatory requirements include: (i) Jelly confectionery that is prepackaged food and that is packed in a mini-cup-shaped container must not contain konjac if the height or width of the container does not exceed 45mm; and (ii) The outermost layer of packaging for sale of jelly confectionery that is prepackaged food and that contains konjac must be clearly and legibly marked with the following words in both Chinese and English: "Caution: Do not swallow whole. Elderly and children must consume under supervision." 「注意：勿一口吞食，長者及兒童須在監護下食用。」 The above words must be marked in a conspicuous position on the packaging. They must be underlined and marked in dark colour on a light-coloured background or in light colour on a dark-coloured background; or marked in red text on a white or yellow background. The CFS spokesman said, according to the Codex Alimentarius Commission, konjac is a safe food additive. However, due to the unique product design and firm texture of mini-cup konjac jellies, improper consumption may increase the risk of choking, particularly for children and the elderly. The CFS consulted the Expert Committee on Food Safety, the Panel on Food Safety and Environmental Hygiene of the Legislative Council and the Advisory Council on Food and Environmental Hygiene, as well as engaged the trade through trade meetings and consultation forums; and listened to trade comments. The CFS has set up a dedicated webpage (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/whatsnew/whatsnew_fstr/whatsnew_fstr_regulation_of_konjac-containing_jelly_confectionery.html) to facilitate the public and trade to access more information. The CFS has also translated relevant health advice into multiple languages, allowing ethnic minority communities to access and understand the information. The CFS will step up surveillance and continue to collaborate with stakeholders to enhance publicity. Ends/Tuesday, March 31, 2026 The Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) (Amendment) Regulation 2025 (Amendment Regulation) will take effect tomorrow (April 1). The Amendment Regulation prohibits the sale of mini-cup konjac-containing jelly confectionery with a height or width not exceeding 45 millimetres in Hong Kong. The Centre for Food Safety of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department carried out preparatory work last year, including holding trade meetings and issuing guidelines, to facilitate the trade's understanding of and compliance with the relevant requirements. Attachment: Leaflet on strengthening regulations on prepackaged konjac-containing jelly confectionery (Chinese version only) Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260331_12309.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (March 26) urged the public not to consume a batch of bottled apple juice drink imported from New Zealand, as a sample of the product was detected with a mycotoxin, patulin, at a concentration exceeding the legal limit. The trade should stop using or selling the affected batch of the product immediately if they possess it. "The CFS collected the above-mentioned sample at a supermarket in Yuen Long for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained patulin at a level of 78 micrograms per kilogram, exceeding the legal limit of 50 micrograms per kilogram of the food," a spokesman for the CFS said. Product details are as follows: Product name: 100% PURE NZ APPLE JUICEBrand: HomegrownPlace of origin: New ZealandImporter: The Dairy Farm Company LimitedVolume: One litre per bottleBest-before date: May 14, 2026 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. Members of the public may call its hotline at 2299 3966 during office hours for enquiries about the recall. "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," the spokesman said. According to the Harmful Substances in Food Regulations (Cap. 132AF), any person who sells apple juice or other beverages to which apple juice has been added, with patulin concentration exceeding the legal limit commits an offence and is liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months upon conviction. The CFS will alert the trade, continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health. An investigation is ongoing. Ends/Thursday, March 26, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260326_12299.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (March 18) instructed the trade to suspend the import of raw oysters produced by Ets Guittonneau (FR 85.083.501) (processing plant) in France. The trade should also stop using or selling the product concerned immediately should they possess it. A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS noted a notification from the French authorites that raw oysters produced by Ets Guittonneau (FR 85.083.501) (processing plant) were suspected to be contaminated with norovirus and under recall. Upon learning of the incident, the CFS immediately contacted local major importers and retailers for follow-up. A preliminary investigation by the CFS found that the affected raw oysters have not been imported into Hong Kong. For the sake of prudence, the CFS has immediately instructed the trade to suspend the import into and sale within Hong Kong of raw oysters produced by Ets Guittonneau (FR 85.083.501) (processing plant)." The spokesman said the trade should also stop selling raw oysters produced by Ets Guittonneau (FR 85.083.501) (processing plant) if they possess them. The spokesman pointed out that as oysters feed by filtering a large volume of seawater, pathogens can accumulate in them if they are grown in or harvested from contaminated water. Raw or partially cooked oysters are high-risk foods. Susceptible groups, such as pregnant women, young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems or liver diseases, should avoid eating raw oysters. The CFS will inform the French authorities and will also notify the local trade. It will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health. An investigation is ongoing. Ends/Wednesday, March 18, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260318_12279.html)

The 2026-27 Budget proposed that Hong Kong's food industry can leverage its reputation for quality to further expand into the Mainland and international markets. The Government will continue discussions with Mainland authorities, seeking market access and simplified customs arrangements on the Mainland for a wider range of local food products. The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) will waive the fees related to the certification of food products for two years. A spokesman for the CFS said today (March 18) that the relevant certificates include: ＊Food Inspection Certificate, its certified true copy and amendment certificate;＊Health Certificate for Foods of Animal Origin, its certified true copy and amendment certificate;＊Recommendation on Food Manufacturer Registration; and＊Advance Release Permission. The fee waiver for the above Food Inspection Certificate and the Health Certificate for Foods of Animal Origin, including their certified true copies and amendment certificates, will take effect from April 1, 2026, until March 31, 2028. The CFS had earlier waived the application fees for the Recommendation on Food Manufacturer Registration and the Advance Release Permission, and these waivers will remain in effect until March 31, 2028. The spokesman said, "This measure aims to facilitate the further opening up of the Mainland and international markets for the industry. In addition, the scope of Advance Release Arrangement has been extended from the initial three categories of food products, namely beverages, pastries, and candies, to a total of six. The three newly added categories of food products are tea leaves, seasonings (ground) and noodles (without meat ingredient)." Applicants for the Food Inspection Certificate, the Health Certificate for Foods of Animal Origin, the Recommendation on Food Manufacturer Registration, and the Advance Release Permission may proceed with applications for the certificates during the aforementioned concession period at the CFS office, or through the Food Trader Portal, the CFS's one-stop online communication platform, without the need to pay the relevant fees. For details, please call 2867 5577. The CFS has also begun holding briefing sessions for the trade to introduce the above arrangements. Ends/Wednesday, March 18, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260318_12281.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (February 27) released the findings of its food safety report for last month. The results of about 2,600 food samples tested (including food items purchased online) were found to be satisfactory except for four unsatisfactory samples that were announced earlier. The overall satisfactory rate was 99.8 per cent. A CFS spokesman said that about 600 food samples were collected for microbiological tests, and about 2,000 samples were taken for chemical and radiation level tests. The microbiological tests covered pathogens and hygiene indicators; the chemical tests included testing for pesticides, preservatives, metallic contaminants, colouring matters, veterinary drug residues and others; and the radiation-level tests included testing for radioactive caesium and iodine in samples collected from imported food from different regions. The samples comprised about 1,000 samples of vegetables and fruit and their products; about 100 samples of cereals, grains and their products; about 300 samples of meat and poultry and their products; about 300 samples of milk, milk products and frozen confections; about 300 samples of aquatic and related products; and about 600 samples of other food commodities (including beverages, bakery products and snacks). The four unsatisfactory samples comprised a jade melon sample detected with a metallic contaminant exceeding the legal limit; a snow pea sample and a spinach sample detected with pesticide residues exceeding the legal limits; and a tuna sample found with malachite green. The CFS has taken follow-up actions on the above-mentioned unsatisfactory samples, including informing the vendors concerned of the test results, instructing them to stop selling the affected food items, and tracing the sources of the food items in question. The spokesman reminded the food trade to ensure that food is fit for human consumption and meets legal requirements. Consumers should patronise reliable shops when buying food and maintain a balanced diet to minimise food risks. Separately, in response to the Japanese Government's discharge of nuclear-contaminated water at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station, the CFS will continue enhancing the testing on imported Japanese food, and make reference to the risk assessment results to adjust relevant surveillance work in a timely manner. The CFS will announce every working day on its dedicated webpage (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/programme/programme_rafs/daily_japan_nuclear_incidents.html) the radiological test results of the samples of food imported from Japan, with a view to enabling the trade and members of the public to have a better grasp of the latest safety information. Ends/Friday, February 27, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260227_12242.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (February 24) urged the public not to consume a batch of prepackaged chocolate product from Japan, as the product might contain plastic fragments. The trade should stop using or selling the affected batch of the product immediately if they possess it. Product details are as follows: Product name: Furuta Doremi Song ChocolateBrand: FurutaPlace of origin: JapanPack size: 122 grams per packBatch number: 2026.10/JG+FMImporter: Man Tung Trading Company LimitedRetailer: APITA and UNYBest-before date: End of October, 2026 A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS, through its Food Incident Surveillance System, noted a notification from the Japanese authority that the above-mentioned product may contain plastic fragments and is being recalled. Upon learning of the incident, the CFS immediately contacted local major importers and retailers for follow-up." According to preliminary investigation, the above importer had imported the affected batch of the product, which were all distributed to APITA and UNY for sale. The importer concerned has stopped sales and removed from shelves the affected product and has initiated a recall according to the CFS's instructions. Members of the public may call the importer's hotline at 2947 7038 during office hours for enquiries about the recall. ​The CFS has alerted the trade to the incident and will continue to follow up and take appropriate action. An investigation is ongoing. Ends/Tuesday, February 24, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260224_12233.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (February 13) instructed the trade to suspend the import and sale of raw oysters produced by Mariscos Escacha, S.L. (12.04628/PO) (processing plant) from Spain. The trade should stop using or selling the affected product immediately should they possess it. The aforesaid instruction by the CFS was based on the follow-up investigation of recently reported food poisoning cases related to the consumption of raw oysters, which revealed involvement of the consumption of raw oysters produced by Mariscos Escacha, S.L. (12.04628/PO) (processing plant) from Spain. For the sake of prudence, the CFS has immediately instructed the trade to suspend the import into and sale within Hong Kong of raw oysters produced by Mariscos Escacha, S.L. (12.04628/PO) processing plant) from Spain to safeguard food safety. The CFS has informed the Spanish authorities of the matter and will notify the local trade. It will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action. From February 1 to 12 this year, the CFS received 37 food poisoning cases related to the consumption of raw oysters. Officers from the CFS and the Environmental Hygiene Branch of the FEHD immediately conducted investigations at the restaurants involved in the cases, reviewing their food handling procedures and tracing the sources of the oysters. The CFS's investigations revealed that 13 cases involved the consumption of raw oysters supplied by Seojun Mulsan Co., Ltd. of Korea. For the sake of prudence, the CFS instructed the trade on February 5 to stop the import and sale in Hong Kong of raw oysters supplied by this company. In addition, the CFS found that 15 cases involved the consumption of raw oysters supplied by the food factory Jeton International Foods and 88 Investment Holdings Limited. The CFS has immediately instructed the company to suspend the sale and supply of raw oysters, and issued a press release on February 6 on its related follow-up work, requiring the trade to stop selling raw oysters supplied by the company concerned. Other cases involved the consumption of raw oysters from various countries. In view of the recent surge in food poisoning cases related to the consumption of raw oysters, the FEHD has carried out special operations in various districts from February 6 to 12 and stepped up inspections to over 1 200 food premises selling oysters across Hong Kong, thereby safeguarding food safety and protecting public health. The focuses of the inspections included the storage temperature of raw oysters, storage conditions in designated refrigerators, the sources of supply, the personal hygiene of food handlers, the hygienic condition of the premises, verifying source documents and health certificates, and collecting samples for testing. During the inspections, the FEHD officers also provided immediate advice on food storage, handling and environmental hygiene, to ensure licensees/permittees comply with licensing conditions and statutory hygiene standards. The CFS has also stepped up the collection of raw oyster samples for testing. The CFS reminded that as oysters feed by filtering a large volume of seawater and absorbing suspended food particles therein, bacteria (e.g. Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio vulnificus) and viruses (e.g. norovirus and Hepatitis A virus) may accumulate in them if they are grown in or harvested from contaminated water. Consuming oysters without thorough cooking might risk direct intake of these microorganisms. Susceptible groups, such as pregnant women, young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems or liver diseases, should avoid eating them. Consumers are advised to purchase or consume oysters only from food premises licensed or permitted by the FEHD. The trade and food handlers should understand the importance of adhering to good personal hygiene and proper food handling, and provide regular training on hygiene practices and norovirus-related risks. Hands should be thoroughly washed with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after handling food. Separate utensils and cutting boards should be used for raw and ready-to-eat foods, with regular cleaning and disinfection. Food handlers who exhibit symptoms of infection should refrain from handling food until they have been symptom-free for at least 48 hours. Ends/Friday, February 13, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260214_12212.html)

With the Chinese New Year around the corner, the demand for poon choi as a festive food for meal gatherings has significantly increased. A spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said today (February 14) that the department has stepped up inspections of food premises across the territory that sell poon choi, and the operation will continue throughout the Chinese New Year period to safeguard food safety and protect public health. The spokesman said, "Given that poon choi contains a wide variety of ingredients and involves more complicated preparation and storage procedures, the FEHD has stepped up targeted inspections of relevant premises. Special attention is paid to food preparation and handling, storage, reheating and transportation processes to ensure compliance with the safety standards and relevant legislation. The FEHD will take stringent follow-up actions against any violation identified." The spokesman said the focuses of the inspections include checking the temperature control of poon choi production and storage to ensure that hot food is kept at or above 60 degrees Celsius while cold food is kept at or below 4 degrees C, and to avoid prolonged storage of food in the danger zone of temperature between 4 degrees C and 60 degrees C. In addition, the inspections also aim to check if raw and cooked foods are separately handled and stored to prevent cross-contamination, the personal hygiene of food handlers and the availability of adequate facilities and cleansing consumables for handwashing at the premises. Moreover, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the FEHD has earlier completed a seasonal food surveillance project on the microbiological quality of poon choi. Poon choi samples were collected from different retailers (including online retailers) to test for food poisoning organisms including Bacillus cereus, Clostridium perfringens, Salmonella, coagulase-positive staphylococci organisms and Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and all samples passed the tests. To enhance the trade's awareness of food safety of poon choi, the FEHD officers will distribute leaflets on food safety to operators of relevant premises during inspections, reminding them to adhere to Good Hygiene Practices. It includes proper control of reheating time and temperature, shortening of time for storing food at room temperature and maintenance of appropriate temperatures during transportation. The operators are also urged to clearly notify the customers of the optimal time for collection and reheating methods before consumption of poon choi to reduce the risk of food poisoning. The FEHD appeals to food businesses to follow the food safety advice below when producing and supplying poon choi: - ensure that adequate manpower, space, ingredients and facilities such as stoves, refrigerators and hot-holding equipment are available before making poon choi;- do not entertain orders beyond handling capacity;- purchase food ingredients from reliable suppliers;- plan the preparation schedule carefully so that foods that are perishable or easily contaminated are not cooked too far in advance;- train temporary food handlers before preparation of poon choi to make sure that they are familiar with the working environment and adhere to safe food preparation practices;- maintain good personal hygiene, and wash hands with liquid soap for at least 20 seconds before handling food to reduce the risk of food contamination;- cook all ingredients thoroughly with the core temperature reaching 75 degrees C or above for at least 30 seconds;- keep hot poon choi above 60 degrees C and chilled poon choi at 4 degrees C or below in the refrigerator till it reaches the customers;- provide written consumption instructions to remind customers of the proper method of storing poon choi that if not for immediate consumption, hot poon choi should be kept at above 60 degrees C while chilled poon choi should be kept in the refrigerator at 4 degrees C or below and be thoroughly reheated before consumption; and- deliver poon choi to the destination as soon as possible and avoid keeping it under room temperature for prolonged period. Members of the public should pay attention to the followings when purchasing poon choi: - order poon choi from reputable licensed shops;- consume the poon choi as soon as possible after it is collected or cooked, and not to keep it under room temperature for more than two hours;- keep chilled poon choi at 4 degrees C or below to minimise its exposure to the danger zone of temperature between 4 degrees C and 60 degrees C, thereby reducing the risk of bacterial growth;- the poon choi should be thoroughly reheated before consumption and consumed as soon as possible, or kept at temperatures above 60 degrees C;- as poon choi is generally served in a large pot, a longer period of time is required to reheat it thoroughly with the core temperature reaching 75 degrees C or above for at least 30 seconds; and- maintain a balanced diet and avoid eating too much food with high levels of energy, sugar, salt or fat. For more food safety information, please visit the CFS website (www.cfs.gov.hk). Ends/Saturday, February 14, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260214_12214.html)

The 2026 Lunar New Year (LNY) fairs are being held at 14 locations across the territory. The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has arranged for staff to inspect the fast food stalls at LNY fairs and distribute booklets to remind stall operators of food safety. A spokesman for the CFS said today (February 14) that, to safeguard food safety and public health, CFS officers have provided health education on food safety and hygiene and distributed booklets to person-in-charge of fast food stalls at various LNY fairs, reminding them to pay more attention to food safety and environmental hygiene and take food safety measures in their operations for producing and supplying wholesome and safe food. Moreover, the CFS has collected food samples, including mock sharks-fin soup, stinky tofu, curry fish ball and Shanghai style steamed pork dumpling, from the fast food stalls at LNY fairs for microbiological tests. The CFS urges food business operators and food handlers to adopt the following measures to ensure food safety: Ends/Saturday, February 14, 2026 The 2026 Lunar New Year (LNY) fairs are being held at 14 locations across the territory. The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has arranged for staff to inspect the fast food stalls at LNY fairs. Photo shows a CFS officer providing health education on food safety and hygiene and distributing booklets to remind fast food stall operators of food safety. The 2026 Lunar New Year (LNY) fairs are being held at 14 locations across the territory. The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has arranged for staff to inspect the fast food stalls at LNY fairs. Photo shows a CFS officer providing health education on food safety and hygiene and distributing booklets to remind fast food stall operators of food safety. The 2026 Lunar New Year (LNY) fairs are being held at 14 locations across the territory. The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has arranged for staff to inspect the fast food stalls at LNY fairs. Photo shows a CFS officer providing health education on food safety and hygiene and distributing booklets to remind fast food stall operators of food safety. Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260214_12216.html)

With the Chinese New Year approaching, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (February 13) reminded members of the public not to illegally bring regulated food, such as raw meat, poultry and eggs, from the Mainland or overseas into Hong Kong. According to the Imported Game, Meat, Poultry and Eggs Regulations (Cap. 132AK), each consignment of imported game, meat, poultry and eggs, whether for personal use or not, must be accompanied by a health certificate issued by the issuing entity of the place of origin or written permission from the FEHD. Regulated food entering Hong Kong from the Mainland must be accompanied by a health certificate issued by Mainland Customs to prove that the food is from registered processing plants for supplying to Hong Kong recognised by the Mainland regulatory authority. Any offender shall be liable on conviction to a fine of $50,000 and to imprisonment for six months. CFS officers will distribute leaflets at different boundary control points before and during the holiday to remind inbound travellers and the public to abide by the relevant regulations. A spokesman for the CFS said, "Members of the public who illegally bring regulated food into Hong Kong will not only be prosecuted, but also need to be aware that these foods may be improperly stored during travel, such as at an improper temperature or unhygienic packaging, leading to the growth of pathogenic bacteria and increased food safety and personal health risks." To avoid criminal liability and health risks, the CFS urged members of the public not to import regulated food illegally without a recognised health certificate, written permission from the FEHD or an import licence for the sake of convenience. The spokesman said that meat and egg products not fully cooked and raw meat products in any forms of packaging (including vacuum packed or tinfoil) are all subject to the control of relevant regulations. The CFS has been striving to safeguard food safety in Hong Kong, and will continue to step up enforcement, publicity and education work with the relevant departments at various boundary control points. Ends/Friday, February 13, 2026 With the Chinese New Year approaching, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (February 13) reminded members of the public not to illegally bring regulated food, such as raw meat, poultry and eggs, from the Mainland or overseas into Hong Kong. Photo shows CFS officers distributing leaflets at a boundary control point to remind inbound travellers and the public to abide the relevant regulations. With the Chinese New Year approaching, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (February 13) reminded members of the public not to illegally bring regulated food, such as raw meat, poultry and eggs, from the Mainland or overseas into Hong Kong. Photo shows a CFS officer and a quarantine detector dog carrying out duties at a boundary control point. Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260213_12210.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (February 12) urged the public not to consume a batch of prepackaged rice, which was detected with cadmium, a metallic contaminant, at a level exceeding the legal limit. The trade should stop using or selling the affected batch of the product immediately if they possess it. Details of the product are as follows: Produce name: RiceBrand: AcquerelloPlace of origin: ItalyNet weight: 500 gramsBest-before date: February 17, 2032Importer: Bright View Trading HK Limited "The CFS collected the above-mentioned sample at the import level for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained cadmium at a level of 0.24 parts per million (ppm), exceeding the legal limit of 0.2 ppm," a spokesman for the CFS said. "Long-term excessive intake of cadmium may affect the kidney functions. The CFS has informed the importer concerned of the irregularity and instructed it to stop sales, remove from shelves the affected batch of the product and to initiate a recall. Members of the public may call the hotline at 3860 1900 during office hours for enquiries about the recall," the spokesman added. According to the Food Adulteration (Metallic Contamination) Regulations (Cap. 132V), any person who sells food with metallic contamination above the legal limit is liable upon conviction to a fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months. The CFS will alert the Italian authorities and the trade, and will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action. An investigation is ongoing. Ends/Thursday, February 12, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260212_12207.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (February 11) that an aquatic product from a regulated Japanese prefecture was suspected to be in breach of the relevant Food Safety Order when the CFS inspected food imported from Japan. The product concerned has been marked and sealed by the CFS and has not entered the market. The CFS is following up on the case. A spokesman for the CFS said, "During an inspection of a consignment of food imported from Japan, the CFS found 10 cartons of dried fish product processed in Saitama Prefecture after the Order was issued. The importer concerned is thus suspected of breaching the relevant Order." According to the Order, all aquatic products originating from the 10 metropolis/prefectures, namely Tokyo, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Miyagi, Chiba, Gunma, Tochigi, Niigata, Nagano and Saitama, are prohibited from being imported into and supplied in Hong Kong if they are harvested, manufactured, processed or packed on or after August 24, 2023, including all live, chilled, frozen, dried or otherwise preserved aquatic products, sea salt, and unprocessed or processed seaweed. The CFS will continue to follow up on this incident and take appropriate action, including informing the Japanese authorities concerned of the incident. Prosecution will be instituted against the importer concerned should there be sufficient evidence. The investigation is ongoing. Ends/Wednesday, February 11, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260211_12201.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (February 10) expressed deep concern over recent food poisoning cases related to the consumption of raw oysters. Officers from the CFS and the Environmental Hygiene Branch of the FEHD immediately conducted investigations at the restaurants concerned, reviewing their food handling procedures and tracing the sources of the oysters. Since February this year, investigations revealed that 10 cases involved the consumption of raw oysters supplied by Seojun Mulsan Co., Ltd. of Korea. For the sake of prudence, the CFS instructed the trade to stop the import and sale in Hong Kong of raw oysters supplied by this company on February 5. In addition, the CFS found 11 cases were involved the consumption of raw oysters supplied by the food factory Jeton International Foods and 88 Investment Holdings Limited. The CFS has promptly instructed the company to suspend the sale and supply of raw oysters, and issued a press release on related follow-up work on February 6, requiring the trade to stop selling oysters supplied by the company concerned. Investigations into other cases, which involve consumption of oysters from various countries, are still ongoing. In view of the recent surge in food poisoning cases related to the consumption of raw oysters, the FEHD has carried out special operations and stepped up inspections of various licensed or permitted food premises across Hong Kong, thereby safeguarding food safety and protecting public health. The focuses of the inspections included the storage temperature of raw oysters, storage conditions in designated refrigerators, the sources of supply, the personal hygiene of food handlers, the hygienic condition of the premises, verifying source documents and health certificates, and collecting samples for testing. Over the past five days, the FEHD has inspected about 430 food premises selling oysters, providing immediate advice on food storage, handling and environmental hygiene. Inspections will continue to ensure licensees/permittees comply with licensing conditions and statutory hygiene standards. The spokesman reminded that as oysters feed by filtering a large volume of seawater and absorbing suspended food particles therein, bacteria (e.g. Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio vulnificus) and viruses (e.g. norovirus and Hepatitis A virus) may accumulate in them if they are grown in or harvested from contaminated water. Consuming oysters without thorough cooking might risk direct intake of these microorganisms. Susceptible groups, such as pregnant women, young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems or liver diseases, should avoid eating them. ​Consumers are advised to purchase or consume oysters only from food premises licensed or permitted by the FEHD. The trade and food handlers should understand the importance of adhering to good personal hygiene and proper food handling, and provide regular training on hygiene practices and norovirus-related risks. Hands should be thoroughly washed with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after handling food. Separate utensils and cutting boards should be used for raw and ready-to-eat foods, with regular cleaning and disinfection. Food handlers who exhibit symptoms of infection should refrain from handling food until they have been symptom-free for at least 48 hours. Ends/Tuesday, February 10, 2026 The Centre for Food Safety of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (February 10) expressed deep concern over recent food poisoning cases related to the consumption of raw oysters. Photo shows FEHD officers providing advice on food storage, handling and environmental hygiene to staff of food premises. The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (February 10) expressed deep concern over recent food poisoning cases related to the consumption of raw oysters. Photo shows a CFS officer collecting raw oyster samples for testing. Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260210_12194.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (February 9) announced the test results of a recently completed seasonal food surveillance project on Lunar New Year (LNY) food (second phase). The test results on 175 samples collected were all satisfactory. A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS has conducted this seasonal food surveillance project in two phases, and the first-phase test results were announced last month. With the LNY around the corner, the CFS has completed the second phase of the surveillance project on LNY food. Steamed puddings (e.g. turnip puddings and festive cakes), fried dumplings (e.g. sesame balls and crispy triangles), candies, glutinous rice balls, nuts, pistachio nuts, melon seeds, vegetarian dishes and dried aquatic products were collected from different retailers (including online retailers) for chemical analysis. Chemical tests targeted preservatives, colouring matters, antioxidants, veterinary drug residue, etc." The spokesman urged the food trade to observe the relevant laws and regulations in the preparation of food and production of labels. They should follow Good Manufacturing Practice and use permitted food additives only in an appropriate manner. Retailers should source food from reliable suppliers and conduct quality checks of incoming materials and end products to ensure that ingredients used are within legal standards. In addition, the food trade should maintain proper records in accordance with the requirements of the Food Safety Ordinance to allow source tracing if needed. The spokesman also advised consumers to buy LNY food from reliable retailers with good hygiene conditions; make sure the packaging of prepackaged cakes and snacks is intact and the products have not expired; refer to the nutrition labels on the sugar, sodium (salt), saturated fat and trans fat content and more for making informed choices; and pay attention to the hygiene conditions of food containers and the personal hygiene of staff when buying loose-packed food (e.g. candied lotus seeds, nuts and melon seeds). "Consumers should choose food products with natural colours. Bright white pistachios may have been bleached, and melon seeds with unnatural gloss may have had mineral oil added. Consumption of these food products can cause gastrointestinal discomfort," the spokesman said. "Festive cakes that are not for immediate consumption should be kept refrigerated or stored according to the instructions on the package and should be eaten before they expire. Reheat hot-served festive cakes thoroughly before consumption, consume them as soon as possible, and avoid keeping them at room temperature for a long time. Foods like nuts and melon seeds should not be kept for a long time. Those with mould or an abnormal smell or taste should not be eaten," he added. The spokesman reminded the public to maintain a balanced diet and, as far as practicable, avoid excessive consumption of foods high in energy, sugar, salt or fat, even during the LNY. Please visit the CFS website (www.cfs.gov.hk/seasonalfood) for more food safety information about seasonal food. Ends/Monday, February 9, 2026 The Centre for Food Safety of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (February 9) announced the test results of the seasonal food surveillance project on Lunar New Year food (second phase). All 175 samples tested were satisfactory. Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260209_12187.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (February 6) announced that an imported live lobster sample from Canada was detected with cadmium, a metallic contaminant, at a level exceeding the legal limit. The CFS is following up on the incident. "The CFS collected the above-mentioned live lobster sample at the import level for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained cadmium at a level of 2.59 parts per million (ppm), exceeding the legal limit of 2 ppm," a CFS spokesman said. "Long-term excessive intake of cadmium may affect the kidney functions. The CFS has informed the importer concerned of the irregularity and instructed it to stop sales and remove from shelves the affected product. The CFS is also tracing the source and distribution of the product concerned," the spokesman added. According to the Food Adulteration (Metallic Contamination) Regulations (Cap. 132V), any person who sells food with metallic contamination above the legal limit is liable upon conviction to a fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months. The CFS will alert the Canadian authorities and the trade, continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action. An investigation is ongoing. Ends/Friday, February 6, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260206_12179.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department continues to actively follow up on the precautionary recall of certain batches of powdered infant and young children formula in different areas worldwide, due to possible presence of Cereulide produced by Bacillus cereus in the individual raw material. The CFS noted through its Food Incident Surveillance System that certain batches of Aptamil powdered infant and young children formula are being recalled by certain areas in Europe as the products might contain Cereulide produced by Bacillus cereus. The CFS has been highly concerned and actively following up on the incident. Following the announcement earlier that a local trader had imported into Hong Kong and sold one affected batch of the powdered infant formula concerned, the CFS's latest follow-up investigation today (February 6), in response to the latest announcement from Europe, revealed that the trader had imported and distributed another affected batch of the powdered infant formula. For the sake of prudence, the distributor concerned has stopped sales, removed the affected product from shelves and initiated a precautionary recall according to the CFS's instructions. Product details are as follows: Product name: Aptamil Profutura DUO Advance 1,800gBrand: AptamilPack size: 800 gramsPlace of origin: GermanyUse-by date: April 21, 2027Distributor: HK Wukong Trading LimitedQuantity imported and distributed: 390 cans The CFS has found in its follow-up investigation that the abovementioned distributor had imported and distributed 65 boxes of 390 cans of the affected product. The CFS has instructed the importer, distributor and retailers concerned to stop sales and remove the affected batch of the product concerned from shelves and to initiate a recall. Members of the public may call the distributor's hotline at 6426 1511 during office hours for enquiries about the recall. The CFS will continue to enhance surveillance of powdered infant and young children formula and to closely monitor the recall matters and remain fully committed to ensuring food safety. The CFS has alerted the trade and relevant department over the incident, and will continue to follow up and take appropriate action. Bacillus cereus is commonly found in the environment. Unhygienic conditions in food processing and storage may give rise to its growth. Cereulide is a heat-stable toxin produced in food by some strains of Bacillus cereus. Consuming food contaminated with excessive Bacillus cereus or its heat-stable toxins may cause gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting and diarrhoea. The CFS urged members of the public not to let infants and young children consume the affected batch of the product, and to seek medical treatment for infants or young children who felt unwell after taking the product concerned. The trade should also stop using or selling the affected batch of the product immediately. The CFS has established a designated webpage (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/whatsnew/powdered_formula/index.html) to facilitate public access to more information. Ends/Friday, February 6, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260206_12184.html)

​A spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said today (February 6) that the Centre for Food Safety of the FEHD continues to actively follow up on the food poisoning cases concerned. Following yesterday's announcement regarding raw oysters supplied by Seojun Mulsan Co., Ltd. of Korea, the latest investigation has revealed that some cases involved the consumption of raw oysters supplied by the food factory Jeton International Food and 88 Investment Holdings Limited. For the sake of prudence, the FEHD has immediately instructed the company concerned to suspend the sale and supply of raw oysters. The trade should stop selling raw oysters supplied by the company concerned immediately if they possess them. The investigation is still ongoing. At the same time, in view of the recent surge in food poisoning cases related to the consumption of raw oysters, the FEHD has carried out special operations and stepped up inspections of various licensed food premises across the territory to ensure that oysters to be eaten in a raw state (raw oysters) are stored at the proper temperature, thereby safeguarding food safety and protecting public health. A spokesman for the FEHD said, "The FEHD has launched a series of operations starting today, including stepping up inspections in various districts. The focuses of the inspections included the storage temperature of raw oysters, storage conditions in designated refrigerators, the sources of supply, the personal hygiene of food handlers and the hygiene condition of the premises. Operators and staff of food premises have been provided with health advice and food safety pamphlets regarding the proper way of storing and handling raw oysters." As stipulated under the permit/licensing conditions of the restricted food permit or written permission issued by the FEHD, all raw oysters ready for immediate consumption shall be kept in a refrigerator or compartment of a refrigerator separated from other food items at a temperature between 0 and 4 degrees Celsius. If a breach of the aforesaid condition is found, FEHD officers will, depending on the actual circumstances, issue verbal warnings or warning letters, and may even consider cancellation of the permits/licences of relevant premises. The spokesman reminded that as oysters feed by filtering a large volume of seawater and absorbing suspended food particles therein, bacteria (e.g. Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio vulnificus) and viruses (e.g. norovirus and Hepatitis A virus) may accumulate in them if they are grown in or harvested from contaminated water. Consuming oysters without thorough cooking might risk direct intake of these microorganisms. Susceptible groups, such as pregnant women, young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems or liver diseases, should avoid eating them. The FEHD will continue to step up inspections to ensure that the licensing/permit conditions are observed by the licensees/permit holders or relevant operators, and the hygienic standards stipulated in the laws are met. Ends/Friday, February 6, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260206_12185.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (February 5) instructed the trade to suspend the import of raw oysters supplied by Seojun Mulsan Co., Ltd from Korea. The trade should stop using or selling the affected product immediately should they possess it. A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS, upon recent notification by the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health of food poisoning cases, conducted follow-up investigations at both the restaurant and supplier levels, and found that the cases involved consumption of raw oysters supplied by Seojun Mulsan Co., Ltd. from Korea. For the sake of prudence, the CFS has immediately instructed the trade to suspend the import into and sale within Hong Kong of raw oysters supplied by Seojun Mulsan Co., Ltd. from Korea." The CFS has also instructed the supplier and restaurants concerned to stop supplying and selling the affected raw oysters immediately, and is tracing the distribution of the product concerned. The trade should also stop using or selling the product concerned immediately should they possess it. The spokesman pointed out that as oysters feed by filtering a large volume of seawater, pathogens can accumulate in them if they are grown in or harvested from contaminated water. Raw or partially cooked oysters are high-risk foods. Susceptible groups, such as pregnant women, young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems or liver diseases, should avoid eating raw oysters. The CFS has informed the Korean authorities of the matter and will also notify the local trade. It will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health. An investigation is ongoing.  Ends/Thursday, February 5, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260205_12177.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department continues to actively follow up on the precautionary recall of certain batches of powdered infant and young children formula in different areas worldwide due to possible presence of Cereulide produced by Bacillus cereus in the individual raw material. The CFS earlier noted through its Food Incident Surveillance System that certain batches of Aptamil powdered infant and young children formula are being recalled by the German authority as the products might contain Cereulide produced by Bacillus cereus. The CFS has been very concerned and actively following up on the incident. Following the announcement yesterday (February 3) that a local retailer had sold a small quantity of one affected batch of the powdered infant formula concerned, the CFS's latest follow-up investigation today (February 4) revealed that another trader had imported and distributed the same affected batch of powdered infant formula as announced yesterday. Product details are as follows (same product as announced for recall yesterday): Product name: Aptamil Profutura DUO Pre D 800gBrand: AptamilPack size: 800 gramsPlace of origin: GermanyUse-by date: April 20, 2027Distributor: HK Wukong Trading LimitedQuantity imported and distributed: 180 cans The CFS has found in its follow-up investigation that the above-mentioned distributor had imported and distributed 30 boxes of 180 cans of the affected product. The CFS has instructed the importer, distributor and retailer concerned to stop sales and remove from shelves the affected batch of the product concerned and to initiate a recall. Members of the public may call the distributor's hotline at 6426 1511 during office hours for enquiries about the recall. Moreover, the CFS is also actively following up on Nestlé company's recall of a batch of Guigoz Optipro Relais 1 powdered infant formula. The CFS has immediately contacted local importer, Nestlé Hong Kong, and a preliminary investigation revealed that Nestlé Hong Kong has not imported nor sold the affected batch of the Guigoz product concerned. The CFS will continue to closely monitor the progress of the incident. Follow-up actions are ongoing. The CFS will continue to enhance surveillance of powdered infant and young children formula and to closely monitor the recall matters and remain fully committed to ensuring food safety. The CFS has alerted the trade and relevant department over the incident, and will continue to follow up and take appropriate action. Bacillus cereus is commonly found in the environment. Unhygienic conditions in food processing and storage may give rise to its growth. Cereulide is a heat-stable toxin produced in food by some strains of Bacillus cereus. Consuming food contaminated with excessive Bacillus cereus or its heat-stable toxins may cause gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting and diarrhoea. The CFS urged members of the public not to let infants and young children consume the affected batch of the product, and to seek medical treatment for infants or young children who felt unwell after taking the product concerned. The trade should also stop using or selling the affected batch of the product immediately. The CFS has established a designated webpage (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/whatsnew/powdered_formula/index.html) to facilitate public access to more information. Ends/Wednesday, February 4, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260204_12171.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department continues to actively follow up on the precautionary recall of certain batches of powdered infant and young children formula in different areas worldwide due to possible presence of Cereulide produced by Bacillus cereus in the individual raw material. The CFS today (February 3) said it earlier noted through its Food Incident Surveillance System that certain batches of Aptamil powdered infant and young children formula are being recalled by the German authority as the products might contain Cereulide produced by Bacillus cereus. The CFS has been very concerned about the incident, and has followed up immediately, including contacting the local importers, retailers and relevant authorities, as well as inspecting retail outlets in the market. The CFS has earlier published a food incident post online to inform the public and the trade of the incident. According to the latest investigation result today, a local retailer had sold a small quantity of one affected batch of the powdered infant formula concerned. For the sake of prudence, the retailer concerned has stopped sales, removed from shelves the affected product and has initiated a precautionary recall according to the CFS's instructions. Product details are as follows: Product name: Aptamil Profutura DUO Pre D 800gBrand: AptamilPack size: 800 gramsPlace of origin: GermanyQuantity imported: 54 cansUse-by date: April 20, 2027Retailer: Baby HK A preliminary investigation by the CFS revealed that relevant importer had imported nine boxes of 54 cans of the product concerned, among which 34 cans had been distributed. The CFS has instructed the retailer concerned to stop sales and remove from shelves the affected batch of the product concerned and to initiate a recall. Moreover, the CFS has marked and sealed 20 cans of remaining stock of the product. Members of the public may call the retailer's hotline at 3586 1399 during office hours for enquiries about the recall. The CFS will continue to enhance surveillance of powdered infant and young children formula and to closely monitor the recall matters and remain fully committed to ensuring food safety. The CFS has alerted the trade and relevant department over the incident, and will continue to follow up and take appropriate action. Follow-up investigation is ongoing. Bacillus cereus is commonly found in the environment. Unhygienic conditions in food processing and storage may give rise to its growth. Cereulide is a heat-stable toxin produced in food by some strains of Bacillus cereus. Consuming food contaminated with excessive Bacillus cereus or its heat-stable toxins may cause gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting and diarrhoea. The CFS urged members of the public not to let infants and young children consume the affected batch of the product, and to seek medical treatment for infants or young children who felt unwell after taking the product concerned. The trade should also stop using or selling the affected batch of the product immediately. The CFS has established a designated webpage (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/whatsnew/powdered_formula/index.html) to facilitate public access to more information. Ends/Tuesday, February 3, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260203_12167.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) continues to actively follow up on the precautionary recall of certain batches of powdered infant and young children formula in different areas worldwide due to possible presence of Cereulide produced by Bacillus cereus in the individual raw material. The CFS today (February 2) said that, during its ongoing follow-up investigation, five samples, which were among the 22 batches already recalled and no longer available on the market, tested positive for Cereulide produced by Bacillus cereus today, ranging from 0.2 to 1.3 micrograms per kilogram of food.Product details of the aforementioned three batches are as follows: Nestlé Hong Kong had already initiated a recall of the affected batches of the products concerned earlier. For enquiries about the recall, members of the public may contact the company through the following channels:Consumer services hotline: 2599 8874 / 2797 6031 / 2179 8136 (Monday to Sunday, 9am to 9pm)Email: consumerservices@hk.nestle.comWhatsApp: 5283 4139 (NESTLÉ®️ NAN®️) / 2599 8871 (Wyeth®️ Nutrition)Online form: forms.office.com/e/BhqMhWfsUG?origin=lprLinkConsumers may choose to bring along the products (brand new or opened) for refund at Dedicated Service Centres of Nestlé Nutrition Services, to settle the recall and refund of the batches of the products concerned. Details of the Dedicated Service Centres are as follows:Kowloon Service CentreAddress: G/F, Park Hovan Commercial Building, 18 Hillwood Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon (MTR Jordon Station Exit D) Contact number: 3996 8196Office hour: Monday to Saturday, 11am to 7.30pm; Sunday, 1pm to 5.30pm (except public holidays)Hong Kong Service CentreAddress: 1/F, Ka Nin Wah Commercial Building, 423-425 Hennessy Road, Hong Kong (MTR Causeway Bay Station Exit B)Contact number: 3996 8197 Office hour: Monday to Saturday, 11am to 7.30pm (except Sundays and public holidays)Nestlé Hong Kong had already stopped sales and removed the 22 affected batches (including the aforementioned three batches) of products from shelves, and had initiated a precautionary recall earlier. According to Nestlé Hong Kong, as of January 30, about 159,000 cans of affected products had been recalled. The CFS and Nestlé Hong Kong have jointly followed up, marked and sealed 233,000 cans of suspected affected batches of infant and young children formula products, including those kept in warehouse and those already recalled. An additional 16 suspected affected batches are currently en route to Hong Kong and will also be marked and sealed upon arrival.From January 7 to 4pm on February 2, the FEHD received a total of 48 food complaints and enquiries suspected to be related to the infant and young children formula products. The CFS and the Environmental Hygiene Branch have promptly followed up on these cases, including contacting the parties concerned to obtain details and collecting samples for testing. In addition, the CFS has referred the cases to the health authority for follow-up.The CFS has enhanced surveillance of the relevant powdered infant and young children formula. Since January this year, a total of 171 samples have been collected for various microbiological and chemical tests. Together with the five samples announced in the CFS's press release on January 24, a total of 10 samples have so far tested positive for Cereulide produced by Bacillus cereus, all were among the 22 batches of Nestlé Hong Kong products that were previously recalled and are no longer available on the market. The test results of the remaining 161 samples were satisfactory. Follow-up investigation by the CFS is still ongoing. In addition, the CFS is pursuing the cases involving samples tested positive for Cereulide produced by Bacillus cereus, and will initiate prosecution procedures if sufficient evidence is available.The CFS will continue to closely monitor the recall matters and remain fully committed to ensuring food safety. Follow up investigation is ongoing. Bacillus cereus is commonly found in the environment. Unhygienic conditions in food processing and storage may give rise to its growth. Cereulide is a heat-stable toxin produced in food by some strains of Bacillus cereus. Consuming food contaminated with excessive Bacillus cereus or its heat-stable toxins may cause gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting and diarrhoea.The spokesman urged members of the public not to let infants and young children consume the 22 affected batches of the products, and to seek medical treatment for infants or young children who felt unwell after taking the products concerned. The trade should also stop using or selling the affected batches of the products immediately.The CFS has established a designated webpage (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/whatsnew/powdered_formula/index.html) to facilitate public access to more information. Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260202_12161.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (January 30) released the findings of its food safety report for last month. The results of about 6,600 food samples tested (including food items purchased online) were found to be satisfactory except for four unsatisfactory samples which were announced earlier. The overall satisfactory rate was 99.9 per cent. A CFS spokesman said about 1,500 food samples were collected for microbiological tests, and about 5,100 samples were taken for chemical and radiation level tests. The microbiological tests covered pathogens and hygiene indicators; the chemical tests included testing for pesticides, preservatives, metallic contaminants, colouring matters, veterinary drug residues and others; and the radiation level tests included testing for radioactive caesium and iodine in samples collected from imported food from different regions. The samples comprised about 2,100 samples of vegetables and fruit and their products; about 500 samples of cereals, grains and their products; about 700 samples of meat and poultry and their products; about 900 samples of milk, milk products and frozen confections; about 800 samples of aquatic and related products; and about 1,600 samples of other food commodities (including beverages, bakery products and snacks). The four unsatisfactory samples comprised three white radish samples detected with pesticide residues exceeding the legal limits and a bamboo fungi sample detected with sulphur dioxide exceeding the legal limit. The CFS has taken follow-up actions on the above-mentioned unsatisfactory samples including informing the vendors concerned of the test results, instructing them to stop selling the affected food items and tracing the sources of the food items in question. The spokesman reminded the food trade to ensure that food is fit for human consumption and meets legal requirements. Consumers should patronise reliable shops when buying food and maintain a balanced diet to minimise food risks. Separately, in response to the Japanese Government's discharge of nuclear-contaminated water at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station, the CFS will continue enhancing the testing on imported Japanese food, and make reference to the risk assessment results to adjust relevant surveillance work in a timely manner. The CFS will announce every working day on its dedicated webpage (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/programme/programme_rafs/daily_japan_nuclear_incidents.html) the radiological test results of samples of food imported from Japan, with a view to enabling the trade and members of the public to have a better grasp of the latest safety information. Summary of food surveillance programme for 2025---------------------------------------------------------- Concluding the food surveillance programme for 2025, the spokesman said that apart from routine food surveillance, the CFS also conducted a number of targeted, seasonal and popular food surveillance projects. "About 69 600 samples were tested by the CFS last year. The overall satisfactory rate was 99.9 per cent, which was comparable to the results in recent years. This indicates that food safety has been maintained at a high standard in Hong Kong," he said. "The exceedances or breaches for most of the unsatisfactory samples were not serious and would not pose adverse health effects to the general public. For individual food items with unsatisfactory test results, the CFS has taken prompt and effective risk management actions to safeguard public health," he said. He added that in planning the food surveillance programme, the CFS will take into consideration a number of factors such as the food consumption level and the risk of the food concerned in deciding on the number of samples to be tested and the frequency of sampling as well as the testing parameters. In addition, the CFS will also suitably adjust its food surveillance programme and strengthen relevant testing with regard to local and overseas food incidents as well as past surveillance data, in particular breaches of regulatory requirements that occurred more frequently, to safeguard food safety in Hong Kong. Ends/Friday, January 30, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260130_12154.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (January 29) announced that malachite green was found in a tuna sample. The CFS is following up on the incident. A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS collected the above-mentioned tuna sample at the import level for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained malachite green at a level of 1.4 parts per billion." The spokesman said that the CFS has informed the importer concerned of the irregularity and is also tracing the source and distribution of the product concerned. Malachite green is a type of industrial dye and has been used for treating infections in fish. Currently, malachite green has been prohibited for use in food-producing animals in many countries. According to the Harmful Substances in Food Regulations (Cap. 132AF), no food sold in Hong Kong is allowed to contain malachite green. Offenders will be prosecuted and liable to a fine of $50,000 and to imprisonment for six months upon conviction. ​The CFS will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action. An investigation is ongoing. Ends/Thursday, January 29, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260129_12151.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (January 27) released the test results of a targeted food surveillance project on the use of sulphur dioxide in meat. Among 630 samples tested, except for three samples found to contain sulphur dioxide (a non-permitted preservative in fresh meat) which have been announced, all the remaining samples passed the test. The overall satisfactory rate was 99.5 per cent. "In view of the detection of the preservative in fresh meat samples in the past, the CFS has long been conducting targeted surveillance projects regularly on the use of such a chemical in meat in recent years. Samples of beef, pork and mutton were collected according to a risk-based approach from fresh provision shops, supermarkets, market meat stalls and online retailers for testing," a spokesman for the CFS said. Sulphur dioxide is a preservative which can be used in a variety of foods including dried fruits, pickled vegetables and meat products such as sausages and grilled burgers. Under the Preservatives in Food Regulation (Cap. 132BD), it is not permitted in fresh or chilled meat. Nonetheless, individual meat traders were found illegally using sulphur dioxide to make meat look fresher. Sulphur dioxide is water-soluble, and most of it can be removed through washing and cooking. However, susceptible individuals who are allergic to sulphur dioxide may experience breathing difficulties, headaches and nausea after consumption. Under the Regulation, the maximum penalty upon conviction of using sulphur dioxide in fresh or chilled meat is a fine of $50,000 and six months' imprisonment. The spokesman reminded the food trade to comply with the law and not to sell fresh or chilled meat containing sulphur dioxide. Members of the public should patronise reliable vendors and avoid buying or consuming meat which is unnaturally red. Ends/Tuesday, January 27, 2026 The Centre for Food Safety of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (January 27) announced the test results of a targeted food surveillance project on the use of sulphur dioxide in meat. The overall satisfactory rate of 630 samples tested was 99.5 per cent. Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260127_12144.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (January 24) said that, the CFS has been actively following up on Nestlé company's voluntary and precautionary recalls of certain batches of its powdered infant and young children formula in worldwide different areas due to possible presence of Cereulide produced by Bacillus cereus in the individual raw material. The CFS has found in its follow-up investigation that five samples, involving four batches which were among the 22 batches earlier announced and already recalled from the market, were tested positive for Cereulide produced by Bacillus cereus, ranging from 0.8 to 8.6 micrograms per kilogram of food.   Product details of the four affected batches are as follows: Nestlé Hong Kong had already initiated a recall of the affected batches of the products concerned earlier. For enquiries about the recall, members of the public may contact the company through the following channels: Consumer services hotline: 2599 8874 / 2797 6031 / 2179 8136 (Monday to Sunday, 9am to 9pm)Email: consumerservices@hk.nestle.comWhatsApp: 5283 4139 (NESTLÉ®️ NAN®️) / 2599 8871 (Wyeth®️ Nutrition)Online form: forms.office.com/e/BhqMhWfsUG?origin=lprLink Consumers may choose to bring along the products (brand new or opened) for refund at Dedicated Service Centres of Nestlé Nutrition Services, to settle the recall and refund of the batches of the products concerned. Details of the Dedicated Service Centres are as follows:  Kowloon Service CentreAddress: G/F, Park Hovan Commercial Building, 18 Hillwood Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon (MTR Jordon Station Exit D) Contact number: 3996 8196Office hour: Monday to Saturday, 11am to 7.30pm; Sunday, 1pm to 5.30pm (except public holidays) Hong Kong Service CentreAddress: 1/F, Ka Nin Wah Commercial Building, 423-425 Hennessy Road, Hong Kong (MTR Causeway Bay Station Exit B)Contact number: 3996 8197 Office hour: Monday to Saturday, 11am to 7.30pm (except Sundays and public holidays) Nestlé Hong Kong had already voluntarily stopped sales and removed from shelves the 22 affected batches (including the aforementioned four batches) of products, and has initiated a precautionary recall earlier. According to Nestlé Hong Kong, as at January 19, about 96,000 cans of affected products have been recalled. The CFS and Nestlé Hong Kong have jointly followed up, as at today, 169,000 cans of suspected affected batches of infant and young children formula products were marked and sealed, including those kept in warehouse and those already recalled. An additional 16 suspected affected batches are currently en route to Hong Kong and will also be marked and sealed upon arrival.       From January 7 to 4pm yesterday (January 23), the FEHD received a total of 43 food complaints and enquiries suspected to be related to the infant and young children formula products, including one anonymous complaint without contact information. The CFS and the Environmental Hygiene Branch have promptly followed up on these cases, including contacting the parties concerned to obtain details and collecting samples for testing. In addition, the CFS has referred the cases to the health authority for follow-up. The CFS has enhanced surveillance of the relevant powdered infant and young children formula. The CFS will continue to closely monitor the recall matters and remain fully committed to ensuring food safety. Follow up investigation is ongoing. Bacillus cereus is commonly found in the environment. Unhygienic conditions in food processing and storage may give rise to its growth. Cereulide is a heat-stable toxin produced in food by some strains of Bacillus cereus. Consuming food contaminated with excessive Bacillus cereus or its heat-stable toxins may cause gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting and diarrhoea.      The spokesman urged members of the public not to let infants and young children consume the 22 affected batches of the products, and to seek medical treatment for infants or young children who felt unwell after taking the products concerned. The trade should also stop using or selling the affected batches of the products immediately.      The CFS has established a designated webpage (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/whatsnew/powdered_formula/index.html) to facilitate public access to more information. Ends/Saturday, January 24, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260126_12139.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (January 21) announced the test results of a recently completed seasonal food surveillance project on Lunar New Year (LNY) food (first phase). The test results of around 770 samples collected were satisfactory, except for two prepackaged rice cake samples found with sodium contents inconsistent with the declared values on their nutrition labels, which were announced earlier. A spokesman for the CFS said, "The LNY is coming soon, and the CFS is conducting this seasonal food surveillance project in two phases. During the first phase of the project, different types of LNY food - including steamed puddings (e.g. turnip puddings and festive cakes), fried dumplings (e.g. sesame balls and crispy triangles), candies, glutinous rice balls, nuts, melon seeds, vegetarian dishes and dried aquatic products - were collected from different retailers (including online retailers) for chemical and microbiological tests as well as nutrition content analysis." Chemical tests targeted preservatives, metallic contaminants, sweeteners and others. Microbiological tests covered different food poisoning pathogens. For nutrition content analysis, the contents of total fat, sodium and sugars of the samples were tested to see if the test results were consistent with the declared values on the nutrition labels. The unsatisfactory food samples were two prepackaged rice cake samples not in compliance with the nutrition labelling regulations. The CFS has taken follow-up action on the above-mentioned unsatisfactory samples, including informing the vendors concerned of the test results, instructing them to stop selling the affected food item and tracing the source of the food items in question. The spokesman urged the food trade to observe the relevant laws and regulations in the preparation of food, follow Good Manufacturing Practice and use permitted food additives only in an appropriate manner. Retailers should source food from reliable suppliers and conduct quality checks of incoming materials and end products to ensure that ingredients used are within legal standards. In addition, the food trade should maintain proper records in accordance with the requirements of the Food Safety Ordinance to allow source tracing if needed. The spokesman also advised consumers to buy LNY food from reliable retailers with good hygiene conditions; make sure the packaging of prepackaged cakes and snacks is intact and the products have not expired; refer to the nutrition labels on the sugar, sodium (salt), saturated fat and trans fat content and more for making informed choices; and pay attention to the hygiene conditions of food containers and the personal hygiene of staff when buying loose-packed foods (e.g. candied lotus seeds, nuts and melon seeds). "Consumers should choose food products with natural colours. Bright white pistachios may have been bleached, and melon seeds with an unnatural gloss may have had mineral oil added. Consumption of these food products can cause gastrointestinal discomfort," the spokesman said. "Festive cakes that are not for immediate consumption should be kept refrigerated or stored according to the instructions on the package and should be eaten before they expire. Reheat hot-served festive cakes thoroughly before consumption, consume them as soon as possible, and avoid keeping them at room temperature for a long time. Foods like nuts and melon seeds should not be kept for a long time. Those with mould or an abnormal smell or taste should not be eaten," he added. The spokesman reminded the public to maintain a balanced diet and, as far as practicable, avoid excessive consumption of foods high in energy, sugar, salt or fat, even during the LNY. The CFS will continue to conduct surveillance on LNY food, and the second-phase results will be released in a timely manner to ensure food safety. Please visit the CFS website (www.cfs.gov.hk/seasonalfood) for more food safety information about seasonal food. The Centre for Food Safety of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (January 21) announced the test results of the seasonal food surveillance project on Lunar New Year food (first phase). Around 770 samples tested were satisfactory except for two samples that were announced earlier. Ends/Wednesday, January 21, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260121_12131.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (January 20) announced the results of a risk assessment study on the microbiological quality of ready-to-eat sauces and like products. All samples were compliant with the microbiological food safety criteria for pathogenic bacteria (i.e. Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus and Clostridium perfringens). The overall result was satisfactory. A spokesman for the CFS said, "Ready-to-eat sauces and like products, such as gravies, dressings and dips, are often served to enhance the flavour of food or complement dishes. These products are often made in large batches. If these ready-to-eat products are contaminated by foodborne pathogens and held for extended periods without proper temperature control, the pathogenic bacteria may proliferate in the contaminated sauces to levels capable of causing foodborne illnesses. Additionally, the preparation of ready-to-eat sauces may involve a variety of ingredients, some of which may be fresh and not subjected to further cooking, making them potential sources of contamination." Given the above-mentioned risks, the CFS therefore conducted a study and collected from various food businesses 50 samples of dressings/dips and 50 samples of gravies. The microbiological quality of the samples was assessed against the criteria stipulated in Microbiological Guidelines for Food. The study results showed that all samples complied with the microbiological food safety criteria for pathogenic bacteria. Test results of individual samples, including the total bacterial count (aerobic colony count) in a curry sauce sample and the Escherichia coli count in an avocado-based sauce sample indicated that there may be room for improvement in terms of food handling processes as well as personal and environmental hygiene, respectively, but there was no food safety concern. The CFS provided advice on Good Hygiene Practices to the staff concerned. Follow-up samples were taken and the testing results were satisfactory. To ensure food safety, the spokesman reminded the food trade to ensure proper time and temperature control when preparing ready-to-eat sauces, especially during storage and cooling. Raw food should be stored and handled separately from cooked and ready-to-eat food to avoid cross-contamination. Food handlers should strictly implement and maintain personal and environmental hygiene, including handwashing with soap regularly. The spokesman also advised members of the public to consume ready-to-eat sauces or like products with raw or undercooked ingredients as soon as possible after purchase. High-risk groups, including pregnant women, young children, the elderly, people with weakened immunity, and people taking antibiotics or antacids, are advised not to consume ready-to-eat sauces or like products with raw or undercooked ingredients. The study is available on the CFS's website at www.cfs.gov.hk. Ends/Tuesday, January 20, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260120_12128.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (January 10) said that, it took initiative to meet with Nestlé Hong Kong again today, and confirmed the company's today announcement of an additional batch of powdered infant and young children formula suspected to have possibly used the raw material concerned. Nestlé Hong Kong has voluntarily stopped sales, removed from shelves the affected products and has initiated a precautionary recall. The CFS has collected samples of powdered infant and young children formula from the market for Bacillus cereus testing, the test results so far were satisfactory. The Environmental and Ecology Bureau is also closely monitoring the supply situation of other formula milk powder and maintaining communication with other major suppliers. It is noted that there is sufficient formula milk powder to meet the demand. The spokesman said, the CFS has been actively following up on Nestlé company's voluntary and precautionary recalls of certain batches of its powdered infant and young children formula in certain areas in Europe due to possible presence of Cereulide produced by Bacillus cereus in the individual raw material. According to the latest information from Nestlé Hong Kong today, an additional batch of its powdered infant and young children formula imported into Hong Kong might have used the raw material concerned. The CFS had earlier enhanced surveillance in the market and collected a sample from the above batch for testing of Bacillus cereus. The test result of the sample was satisfactory. Nevertheless, as a precautionary measure, Nestlé Hong Kong has voluntarily stopped sales, removed from shelves the affected products and has initiated a precautionary recall. Product details are as follows: Product name (Net weight): NAN PRO 1 2 HMO (800g)Batch number: 51670742F2Best-before date: June 16, 2027Place of Origin: Germany "The CFS met Nestlé Hong Kong again today, urging them to properly handle the product recall issue and respond to public enquiries, in order to safeguard consumers' legitimate rights and interests. In addition, the CFS and Nestlé Hong Kong have jointly followed up, six suspected affected batches of infant and young children formula products that had not entered the market were marked and sealed. An additional 15 batches are currently en route to Hong Kong and will also be marked and sealed upon arrival. The CFS will continue to closely monitor the recall matters and remain fully committed to ensuring food safety, " the spokesman said. Nestlé Hong Kong has initiated a recall of the affected batches of the products concerned. For enquiries about the recall, members of the public may contact the company through the following channels: Consumer services hotline: 2599 8874 / 2797 6031/ 2179 8136 (Monday to Sunday, 9am to 9pm)Email: consumerservices@hk.nestle.comWhatsApp: 5283 4139 (NESTLÉ®️ NAN®️) / 2599 8871 (Wyeth®️ Nutrition)Online form: forms.office.com/e/BhqMhWfsUG?origin=lprLink Consumers may choose to bring along the products (brand new or opened) for refund at place of purchase, or at exclusive service counters of Nestlé Nutrition Services from January 13 (Tuesday) onwards, to settle the recall and refund of the batches of the products concerned. Details of the exclusive service counters are as follows: Kowloon Services CounterAddress: G/F, Park Hovan Commercial Building, 18 Hillwood Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon (MTR Jordon Station Exit D) Contact number: 3996 8196Office hour: Monday to Saturday, 11am to 7.30pm; Sunday, 1pm to 5.30pm (except public holidays) Hong Kong Services CounterAddress: 1/F, Ka Nin Wah Commercial Building, 423-425 Hennessy Road, Hong Kong (MTR Causeway Bay Station Exit B)Contact number: 3996 8197Office hour: Monday to Saturday, 11am to 7.30pm (except Sundays and public holidays)  The CFS, through its Food Incident Surveillance System, noted earlier that certain batches of Nestlé powdered infant formula were being voluntarily recalled in Europe due to possible contamination with Bacillus cereus. Upon learning of the incident, the CFS has immediately initiated follow up actions, published food incident posts to inform the public and the trade about the issue, and has been actively following up on the incident and enhanced surveillance. Over the past three days (as of 4pm on January 9), the FEHD received a total of 18 food complaints and enquiries suspected to be related to the infant and young children formula products, including one anonymous complaint without contact information. The CFS and the Environmental Hygiene Branch have promptly followed up on all cases, including contacting the parties concerned to obtain details and collecting samples for testing. In addition, the CFS has referred the cases to the health department for follow-up. At present, no food poisoning cases related to the formula have been recorded.                Bacillus cereus is commonly found in the environment. Unhygienic conditions in food processing and storage may give rise to its growth. Cereulide is a heat-stable toxin produced in food by some strains of Bacillus cereus. Consuming food contaminated with excessive Bacillus cereus or its heat-stable toxins may cause gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting and diarrhoea.      The spokesman urged members of the public not to let infants and young children consume the affected batches of the products, and to seek medical treatment for infants or young children who felt unwell after taking the products concerned. The trade should also stop using or selling the affected batches of the products immediately. "The CFS continues to closely monitor the developments of the situation, follow up and take appropriate action," the spokesman said. Ends/Saturday, January 10, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260110_12105.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (January 7) that an aquatic product from a regulated Japanese prefecture was suspected to be in breach of the relevant Food Safety Order when the CFS inspected food imported from Japan. The product concerned has been marked and sealed by the CFS and has not entered the market. The CFS is following up on the case. A spokesman for the CFS said, "During an inspection of a consignment of food imported from Japan, the CFS found two packs of cooked whelk meat, processed in Miyagi Prefecture after the Order was issued. The importer concerned is thus suspected of breaching the relevant Order." According to the Order, all aquatic products originating from 10 metropolis/prefectures, namely Tokyo, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Miyagi, Chiba, Gunma, Tochigi, Niigata, Nagano and Saitama, are prohibited from being imported into and supplied in Hong Kong if they are harvested, manufactured, processed or packed on or after August 24, 2023, including all live, chilled, frozen, dried or otherwise preserved aquatic products, sea salt, and unprocessed or processed seaweed. The CFS will continue to follow up on this incident and take appropriate action, including informing the Japanese authorities concerned of the incident. Prosecution will be instituted against the importer concerned should there be sufficient evidence. The investigation is ongoing. Ends/Wednesday, January 7, 2026 Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260107_12097.html)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (January 6) said that, the CFS has been actively following up on Nestlé company's voluntary and precautionary recalls of certain batches of its powdered infant and young children formula in certain areas in Europe due to possible presence of Cereulide produced by Bacillus cereus in the individual raw material. The CFS has earlier conducted immediate follow-up investigation, contacted local importers (including Nestlé Hong Kong Limited (Nestlé HK)), retailers and relevant authorities. According to the latest information from Nestlé HK today, 21 batches of its powdered infant and young children formula imported into Hong Kong might have used the raw material concerned. As a precautionary measure, Nestlé HK has voluntarily stopped sales, removed from shelves the affected products and has initiated a precautionary recall. Please refer to the Annex for product details of the 21 concerned batches of powdered infant and young children formula. A spokesman for the CFS said, "Nestlé HK has initiated a recall of the affected batches of the products concerned. For enquiries about the recall, members of the public may call its hotline at 2599 8874." The CFS, through its Food Incident Surveillance System, noted earlier that certain batches of Nestlé powdered infant formula were being voluntarily recalled in Europe due to possible contamination with Bacillus cereus. Upon learning of the incident, the CFS has immediately initiated follow up actions, published food incident posts to inform the public and the trade about the issue, and has been actively following up on the incident and enhanced surveillance. Bacillus cereus is commonly found in the environment. Unhygienic conditions in food processing and storage may give rise to its growth. Cereulide is a heat-stable toxin produced in food by some strains of Bacillus cereus. Consuming food contaminated with excessive Bacillus cereus or its heat-stable toxins may cause gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting and diarrhoea. The spokesman urged members of the public not to let infants and young children consume the affected batches of the products, and to seek medical treatment for infants or young children who felt unwell after taking the products concerned. The trade should also stop using or selling the affected batches of the products immediately. "The CFS has alerted the trade and relevant department over the incident, and will continue to follow up and take appropriate action. Follow-up work is ongoing," the spokesman said. Ends/Tuesday, January 6, 2026 Annex Source of Information (Centre for Food Safety: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20260106_12094.html)