The Buzz | Macau warns of toxic mold in fruit juice

A brand of bottled fruit juice made in Hong Kong has been contaminated by patulin, a toxin produced by mold, the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) of Macau has warned. The IAM became aware of this following an announcement made by Hong Kong’s Center for Food Safety.
The affected product, Dr. Detox-Original, is sold under the name “bless” in 270 mL bottles with a use by date of July 5, 2020.
Those in possession of this batch of product should refrain from further consumption and should discard the product immediately.
According to tests conducted in Hong Kong, the sample contained 63 parts per billion (ppb) of patulin, exceeding the action level of 50 ppb in patulin in apples or apple juice outlined by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, a World Health Organization entity that monitors food safety.
In Macau, the legally acceptable level of fungus toxins in food products is 50 ppb.
In response, the bureau has reminded the industry to remain cautious and conducted spot-checks at local outlets. The IAM instructed the relevant outlets to retrieve the product.
Patulin is usually found in rotten apples, hawthorns and their products. Animal studies show that ingesting high doses of patulin can cause liver, spleen and kidney damage, as well as toxicity to the immune system. Nausea, gastrointestinal disturbances and vomiting have been reported in humans.