CFS urges trade to stop sale of three kinds of imported milk and milk beverage products

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (November 20) said that the trade should stop sale of three kinds of milk and milk beverage products imported from Indonesia, regardless of batches, as the CFS suspected that the production plant indicated on the food labels of the products concerned was not their place of manufacture in Indonesia. The CFS also advised the public to stop consuming the products concerned.
 
     Details of the products are as follows:
 
(1) Product name: UHT Full Cream Milk
Brand: Greenfields
Importer: AustAsia Food HK Limited
Net volume: 1 litre per pack
 
(2) Product name: UHT High Calcium Skimmed Milk
Brand: Greenfields
Importer: AustAsia Food HK Limited
Net volume: 1 litre per pack
 
(3) Product name: UHT High Calcium Low Fat Milk Beverage
Brand: Greenfields
Importer: AustAsia Food HK Limited
Net volume: 1 litre per pack
 
     A CFS spokesman said, "Upon receiving intelligence, the CFS initiated an investigation immediately. Preliminary investigation showed that the production plant indicated on the food labels of the above-mentioned products ceased production of those products at the end of March last year. Some of the products were suspected to be manufactured by a production plant which had not been given import permission by the Director of the Food and Environmental Hygiene (DFEH). The CFS has therefore instructed the importer to recall the products concerned. Members of the public can call the importer's hotline at 2132 5500 during office hours to enquire about the recall. Furthermore, the CFS has taken samples of the products concerned for microbiological and chemical tests and the results were all satisfactory."
 
     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. In addition, according to the Milk Regulation (Cap 132AQ), any person who sells any milk or milk beverage imported into Hong Kong from a source of manufacture other than a source of manufacture which has been approved by the DFEH shall commit an offence. The maximum penalty is a fine of $10,000 and imprisonment for three months upon conviction.
 
     The CFS has notified the Indonesian authorities, alerted the trade to the incident and referred the case to law enforcement agencies for follow-up in parallel. The CFS has also revoked the letter of permission for the importer to import the products concerned. The CFS will continue to follow up and take appropriate action. Investigation is ongoing.