Prepackaged melon seed sample detected with mineral oil exceeding legal limit

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS)

Prepackaged melon seed

Product name: 五香黑瓜子 (Not available in English)

Brand: 知味涼果 (Not available in English)

Net weight: 454 grams

Place of origin: China

Distributor: 知味食品有限公司 (Not available in English)

Best-before date: October 24, 2023

• The CFS collected the above-mentioned melon seed sample from an online shop for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the amount of mineral oil contained in the sample was 0.59 parts by weight of mineral oil per 100 parts by weight of the article of food, exceeding the legal limit of 0.2 parts.
• Consumption of food products containing an excess amount of mineral oil may cause gastrointestinal discomfort.

• 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 concerned has initiated a recall of the affected batch of the product.
• The CFS will alert the trade, continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action. An investigation is ongoing.

Stop using or selling the affected batch of the product immediately if they possess it.

Not to consume the affected batch of the product.

The CFS press release

Members of the public may call its hotline at 6063 3461 during office hours for enquiries about the recall of the product concerned.

Photo for reference only.