Japanese green tea leaves sample with low radioactivity levels detected

Issue Date

2012-04-03

Source of Information

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS)

Food Product

Green tea leaves
 

Product details are as follows:
Product name: Tokan Maruko Yabuk Ta Ban Cha (Green Tea)
Manufacturer: Ochano Maruko Co. Ltd
Place of origin: Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan
Packing size: 400 grams 
Best before date: July 29, 2012

The picture shows the green tea leaves product “Tokan Maruko Yabuk Ta Ban Cha (Green Tea)” 

Reason For Issuing Alert

A green tea leaves sample, imported from Japan and collected from a local retail outlet during surveillance, was detected with low radioactivity levels, but did not exceed the guideline levels of the Codex Alimentarius Commission 

Action Taken by the Centre for Food Safety

- As a precautionary measure, the CFS has contacted the local importer/retailer. 

- The CFS will closely monitor information from Japan as well as the radiation testing results of Japanese food products in Hong Kong and elsewhere, making reference to the recommendations of international authorities.

 

Advice to the Trade

- The vendor concerned has voluntarily suspended sale, initiated a free exchange of the affected batch of the product, and set up a telephone hotline.

Advice to Consumers

The total internal dose for radioactive substances from consuming the green tea leaves sample for one year is far less than the radiation dose received during a chest X-ray examination and would not pose adverse health effects. 
But if people are worried, they may choose not to consume the affected batch of the product.

Further Information

Consumers may enquire about the exchange arrangement by calling the vendor’s telephone hotline during office hours: 2885 0331 

Visit the CFS website (www.cfs.gov.hk) for the surveillance results on Japanese food products

The CFS press release