CFS Steps up Surveillance of Lead Content in Powdered Infant and Follow-Up Formula

CFS steps up surveillance of lead content in powdered infant and follow-up formula

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) announced today (July 29) that the CFS continues to actively follow up on a case announced earlier by the Macao authority, concerning a batch of powdered infant formula found with lead exceeding its permissible levels.

A spokesman for the CFS said, "Upon learning of the incident earlier, the CFS immediately stepped up the surveillance of powdered infant and follow-up formula. Over the past four days (from July 25 to July 28), the CFS collected over 50 samples of powdered infant and follow-up formula products in the market for lead content testing, including 11 batches of Frisolac Prestige Stage 1 Infant Formula (800g) (see Annex for details). No case exceeding Hong Kong's statutory standard was found, i.e. lead content not exceeding 0.01 milligram per kilogram."

The spokesperson added that the CFS will continue to collect powdered infant and follow-up formula samples in the market for testing, and will closely monitor the development of the incident to fully safeguard food safety.

The spokesperson supplemented that long term excessive exposure to lead in children can lead to neurological impairment and affect brain development. Regarding the individual batch previously recalled (Product name: Frisolac Prestige Stage 1 Infant Formula (800g); Best-before date: September 30, 2027; Batch number: 1W07KPJ), the CFS has deployed officers to inspect various retail outlets to ensure that the affected batch of the product has been removed from shelves to safeguard food safety.

The CFS urged again members of the public not to let infants and young children consume the affected batch of product, and to seek medical treatment if infants or young children who feel unwell after consuming the product concerned. Apart from contacting the Macao authority and informing the trade and relevant departments, the CFS took the initiative earlier to meet with the importer concerned, urging them to properly handle the product recall issue. The importer concerned is currently recalling the affected batch of powdered infant formula. Members of the public can call the importer's hotline at 2280 4731 during office hours for enquiries about the recall. The trade should also immediately stop using or selling the affected batch of products.

The CFS has been collecting powdered infant and follow-up formula samples from local retail outlets for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme to safeguard the food safety of infants and young children. From 2023 to July 2026, the CFS has collected over 2 200 powdered infant and follow-up formula samples from the market for chemical and microbiological testing, including lead content tests. No unsatisfactory samples for lead content were found.

Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The CFS has established a designated webpage (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/whatsnew/powdered_formula_lead/index.html) to facilitate public access to more information.

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has been collecting powdered infant and follow-up formula samples from local retail outlets for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme to safeguard the food safety of infants and young children. The CFS immediately stepped up surveillance and will continue to collect powdered infant and follow-up formula samples in the market for testing to fully safeguard food safety. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has been collecting powdered infant and follow-up formula samples from local retail outlets for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme to safeguard the food safety of infants and young children. The CFS has deployed officers to inspect various retail outlets to ensure that the affected batch of powdered infant formula has been removed from shelves to safeguard food safety. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

HKICL alerts public of fraudulent website

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

The Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited (HKICL) has recently noted several fraudulent websites at hkiclfpsfa35.i3r7[.]my, hkiclfps7e27.f8l5[.]my, hkiclfps9377.f8l5[.]my, hkiclfpsb148.i3r7[.]my, kjf.i3r7[.]my, khf.i3r7[.]my, ani.i3r7[.]my and hkmonetaryauthority[.]xyz purported to be from the HKICL. The fraudulent websites imitate as "Buyer Online Protection" to provide services including 1) refund to buyer, 2) unauthorised online transaction reporting, and 3) online transaction support, for online transaction over FPS payment. They intend to trick user into giving away personal document number and ID photo together with phone number for real-name verification in order to get cash reward. In addition, they also trick user into providing bank name, bank account holder's number and bank account holder's name to top up and withdraw money from its platform's virtual wallet via FPS. Furthermore, they direct user to a fraudster impersonating as customer service personnel.

The HKICL advises that these fraudulent websites have no affiliation with the HKICL, or any business of the HKICL. The HKICL will not directly provide FPS service to individual members of the public or contact individual members of the public proactively under usual circumstance. The genuine official website addresses of the HKICL are www.hkicl.com.hk and fps.hkicl.com.hk.

The HKICL urges the public to beware of suspicious calls, websites or other communications, and to remain vigilant in protecting personal information. If members of the public receive any suspicious communication purportedly from the HKICL, please call the HKICL's general line at 2533 1111 to verify. Members of the public who suspect that theyhave become the victim of fraudulent acts should report promptly to the Police.

Source: AI-found images