The Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) urged the public yesterday to stop eating the prepacked frozen “Vietnam Premium Pork Sausage” manufactured by Vietnamese company “Lan Heung Yuen” as it contains benzoic acid used as a preservative.
An IAM statement said that each kilogramme of sausage contains 0.41grammes of benzoic acid, the use of which is banned in this food category. The statement noted that the batch number of the problematic product is VN.176.IV.077 with an expiry date of June 11, 2024.
According to the statement, the product was imported from Hong Kong by Seng Kei Frozen Food Store on Rua da Doca dos Holandeses, which sold it to other local frozen meat shops and restaurants.
The statement noted that the local food market has been urged to stop selling the product while recalling it from the market. The statement added that IAM inspectors have been sent to follow up on the incident and also to trace the circulation of the product in the market.
The bureau said that its Food Safety Department has meanwhile reported the case to its counterpart in Hong Kong for follow-up.
The statement pointed out that benzoic acid is a preservative that is commonly used in food products, adding that excessive consumption can cause diarrhoea, stomach pain, rapid heartbeat and other symptoms.
This undated handout photo provided by the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) yesterday shows two “Vietnam Premium Pork Sausages” manufactured by “Lan Heung Yuen”, both with the expiry date of June 11, 2024 and batch number of VN.176.IV.077.
