The Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) received a report from the Hong Kong Centre for Food Safety on Thursday that a dried lily bulb product sold locally was found to contain excessive cadmium – a metallic contaminant which exceeded the legally permitted maximum amount in line with local health standards, 0.125 parts per million, the bureau announced in a statement on Thursday.
The bureau has ordered shops to stop selling the dried lily bulb product that weighs 303 grams and expires on March 31 next year. It urged consumers not to consume them, the statement said, which pointed out that the maximum level of metal in food must not exceed 0.05 parts per million.
The product marketed as “精選蘭州百合” under the brand of “樓上” is imported from the mainland.
According to the bureau, cadmium is a heavy metal pollutant and long-term intake can cause chronic poisoning and damage to kidney function. However, based on the level of cadmium detected in the sample, risk assessment showed that adverse health effects are unlikely under usual consumption.
Chocolate cornflakes containing hard lumps
The bureau also said in a statement on Friday that a batch of the UK-origin Kellogg’s Corn Flakes Chocolate Flavour were found to possibly contain hard lumps in the cereal which could create a choking hazard, warning the public to stop eating them.
According to an IAM statement, branded as “Kellogg’s”, each box of the affected batch weighs 450g and has a best-before date ranging from December 6 this year to April 28 next year.
The statement underlined that upon receiving an announcement made by the UK Food Standard Agency (FSA), the bureau immediately issued a food alert, warning those in possession of the product to stop supplying and selling it, while requesting them to contact the bureau’s Food Safety Department on 2833 8181.
The statement underlined the bureau’s commitment to tracing the circulation of both products in the market through its inspectors.
This undated handout photo provided by the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) on Thursday shows the UK-origin Kellogg’s Corn Flakes Chocolate Flavour that were found to possibly contain hard lumps.
