The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of Hong Kong’s Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has ordered the immediate recall of two popular pre-packaged seasonings—a crushed red pepper from the United States and an organic oregano from India—after routine testing revealed the presence of ethylene oxide, a banned pesticide classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). The affected products, sold through online retailers, pose serious health risks including neurotoxicity, genetic damage, and cancer, prompting authorities to issue stop-sale directives and launch a recall hotline for consumers.
Products Affected and Recall Details
The CFS announced on July 15, 2026, that samples collected from two e-commerce platforms under its regular food surveillance program tested positive for ethylene oxide. The following products are subject to immediate recall:
- Crushed Red Pepper – Brand: Spice Hunter; Origin: USA; Net weight: 36g; Best before: November 15, 2027; Distributor: V-Care Asia Ltd.; Recall hotline: 2365 9985
- Organic Oregano – Brand: Barnes; Origin: India; Net weight: 24g; Best before: June 15, 2027; Distributor: Co Op Buy Ltd.; Recall hotline: 9015 9022
Both distributors have been instructed to cease sales and remove the items from their online stores. Consumers who purchased these products are urged to contact the respective hotlines during business hours for return and refund arrangements.
What Is Ethylene Oxide and Why Is It Banned?
Ethylene oxide is a synthetic organic compound that appears as a colorless, sweet-smelling gas at room temperature. It is widely used in industrial settings to produce antifreeze, detergents, and other chemicals, and has powerful sterilizing properties that make it effective for fumigating medical equipment and controlling insects, fungi, and bacteria in dry foods such as spices, herbs, nuts, and oily seeds.
However, the IARC has classified ethylene oxide as a Group 1 carcinogen—meaning there is sufficient evidence of its cancer-causing potential in humans. The European Union has stated that because ethylene oxide is a genotoxic carcinogen, it is impossible to establish a safe intake threshold; no regulatory body, including the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Health Organization Joint Meeting on Pesticide Residues, or authorities in the United States and Australia, has set a maximum residue limit for it. Hong Kong therefore adopts a zero-tolerance policy toward any detectable level of the chemical in food.
Health Risks Beyond Cancer: Four Documented Dangers
Scientific and animal studies have identified multiple severe health consequences associated with ethylene oxide exposure:
- Neurotoxicity: The chemical damages both the central and peripheral nervous systems. Animal research shows that ingestion or inhalation can impair motor coordination and, in severe cases, lead to paralysis.
- Reproductive toxicity: Exposure increases the percentage of abnormal sperm in males and raises the risk of congenital malformations, developmental defects, or fetal death in offspring.
- Genotoxicity: Ethylene oxide reacts directly with DNA, causing chromosomal aberrations and genetic mutations that are irreversible.
- Carcinogenicity: Long-term exposure significantly elevates the incidence of leukemia, lymphoma, and malignant tumors in multiple organs, with animal models showing tumor responses closely resembling human patterns.
Legal Consequences and Consumer Advice
Under Hong Kong’s Pesticide Residues in Food Regulation (Cap. 132CM) , selling food with pesticide residues that are harmful to health is an offence punishable by a maximum fine of HKD 50,000 and six months’ imprisonment. The CFS has reminded all food businesses to comply with the law and ensure their products meet safety standards.
For consumers, the CFS advises checking pantry shelves for the two recalled items. Anyone who has consumed them and experiences symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, or neurological discomfort should seek medical attention. Going forward, shoppers are encouraged to buy spices from reputable sources and stay informed about food safety alerts published on the CFS website.
This incident highlights the global challenge of regulating chemical contaminants in imported food products. As Hong Kong continues to strengthen its surveillance network, consumers can expect more rigorous testing and faster recall actions to protect public health.