Consumers should avoid a product called Zheng Jin Rong Red Mud Peanut which has been found to have excessive aflatoxins, the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department says.

It is produced by a food trading company in Guangzhou, and the batch from which the sample was taken was packed on November 25 last year, with a best before date of September 24 this year.

A sample of the product was taken during a special food surveillance exercise last month on Mainland food imports in which some 130 food samples were collected from various outlets for testing of preservatives, additives and contaminants.

Assistant Director of Food & Environmental Hygiene Dr Thomas Chung said tests found the aflatoxins level in a peanut sample reached a level of 1,400 micrograms per kilogram of the food, far exceeding the legal limit of 20 micrograms.

Chronic exposure to aflatoxins harmful

Dr Chung said: "Chronic exposure to aflatoxins may be harmful to the liver and cause cancer. Although the usual intake of the concerned peanut is unlikely to develop any acute harmful effect, the department strongly advises the public not to consume the incriminated batch of products and to dispose of any such peanuts under their possession."

The department has informed Mainland authorities about its findings and stepped up surveillance on similar products. Retailers are urged to stop selling the peanuts.

Hotline set up

A hotline (2867 5440) has been set up to answer enquiries. It will operate until 9pm today and during office hours tomorrow.

The department advises vendors to ensure all food for sale complies with relevant laws and is fit for human consumption. They should also obtain their food from reliable suppliers.

Consumers are advised to buy food from reliable and reputable retailers and reject any unclean, opened or damaged package. They should consume food within the designated best before date and discard any food that looks mouldy, damp, shrivelled or discoloured.

Test results on other food samples collected during the recent food surveillance exercise are being analysed. Close monitoring of the quality of food on sale in the local market will continue to ensure that all items sold are fit for consumption.