The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (November 14) urged the public not to consume a kind of imported octopus, since the product 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.

Product details are as follows:

Product name: Baby Octopus
Brand: CasaRinaldi
Place of origin: Italy
Net weight: 280 grams per bottle
Lot No.: LF046044
Expiry date: April 30, 2024
importer: Il Bel Paese Ltd.

A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS received a notification from the Rapid alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) of the European Commission that the above-mentioned product was detected with cadmium at a level of 2.25 parts per million (ppm), exceeding the legal limit of 2 ppm. According to the information provided by the RASFF, the affected product has been imported into Hong Kong. Upon learning of the incident, the CFS immediately contacted the above-mentioned local importer for follow-up. A preliminary investigation found that the above-mentioned importer had imported into Hong Kong the affected batch of the product concerned."

The above-mentioned importer has stopped selling and removed from shelves the affected batch of the product upon the CFS's instructions, and has initiated a recall. Members of the public may call the relevant importer at 2868 1328 during office hours for enquiries about the recall.

"Long-term excessive intake of cadmium may affect the kidney functions. 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 spokesman added.

The spokesman urged the public not to consume the affected batch of the product if they have bought any. The trade should also stop using or selling the affected batch of the product concerned immediately if they possess them.

The CFS will alert the trade to the incident, and will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action. An investigation is ongoing.