The Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) urged the public in a statement on Friday not to eat three types of made-in-US canned pasta sauce under the brand of “Hunts”, which may contain a pesticide – ethylene oxide.
The statement did not say whether the products of the problematic batches are being sold in Macau.
According to the statement, the bureau was informed by the Centre for Food Safety of Hong Kong about the three problematic products, namely “Hunts Pasta Sauce (Traditional)”, “Hunts Pasta Sauce (Mushroom)”, and “Hunts Pasta Sauce (Garlic & Herb)”, all with a net weight of 680 grams, and a best-before date of December 26 and September 8 this year, as well as July 31 next year, respectively.
According to the National Cancer Institute, ethylene oxide is a flammable colourless gas with a sweet odour at room temperature. It is used primarily to produce other chemicals, including antifreeze. In smaller amounts, ethylene oxide is used as a pesticide and a sterilising agent.
The bureau immediately issued an alert to the local food trade and dispatched officials to inspect the market, and urged consumers to stop using the product immediately if they are in possession of it, adding that shops should also immediately cease selling the product if they have it on their shelves.
Anyone who has food-related enquiries may call the IAM’s Food Safety Hotline on 2833 8181.
This undated handout photo provided by the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) shows the problematic canned pasta sauce “Hunts Pasta Sauce (Traditional)”.
