Hong Kong’s Consumer Council (CC) has issued a significant warning regarding common kitchen staples, revealing that over 77% of tested sesame products contain various contaminants, including plasticizers and a genotoxic carcinogen, in quantities exceeding local and international safety benchmarks. The findings, published in the 566th issue of the council’s Choice magazine, assessed 35 samples of sesame oils, powders, and pastes, identifying four samples that contained levels of plasticizers up to 79 times the Centre for Food Safety’s (CFS) action limits, while one sesame oil also exceeded European Union standards for a known cancer-causing substance.
Contamination Highlights Consumer Safety Risks
The investigation, which sourced 35 popular sesame products from supermarkets and department stores between November and December 2022, focused on identifying harmful residues that may pose long-term health risks. Researchers found that 27 products contained some form of contaminant.
Key findings of concern surrounded multiple samples exhibiting high concentrations of phthalates (plasticizers) and glycidol (a genotoxic carcinogen). Specifically, three sesame oils and one sesame powder exhibited levels of plasticizers (DBP, DEHP, and DINP) significantly above the CFS Action Level.
The Council highlighted several products with excessive contamination:
- Plasticizer Exceedances: The “Koon Yick Wah Kee” Blended Sesame Oil recorded plasticizer (DBP) levels at 24 mg/kg, a staggering 79 times higher than the CFS action limit. This product also exceeded the limit for DEHP by 46 times. Another sesame oil, “Tung Chun” Shredded Sesame Oil, and “Green Dot Dot” 100% Pure Black Sesame Powder were also found to surpass plasticizer action levels.
- Carcinogen Risks: A separate analysis revealed that 13 sesame oil samples contained the processing contaminant glycidol, which is classified as a genotoxic carcinogen. The “Amoy” Premium Aromatic Black Sesame Oil registered 2,100 micrograms per kilogram, surpassing the European Union’s maximum standard (1,000 µg/kg) by 1.1 times.
Plasticizers, commonly used in food packaging and processing equipment, have been linked in animal studies to adverse effects on the reproductive system and the health of organs like the liver and kidneys following prolonged exposure.
Guidance for Safer Consumption: Five-Star Selections
Despite the widespread contamination issues, the Consumer Council did identify several brands across all categories that tested favorably, demonstrating minimal or no detectable levels of hazardous substances, earning them the Five-Star overall rating.
Consumers seeking safer options for their kitchen can refer to the top-rated products:
Five-Star Sesame Oil:
- CRUDIGNO Organic Cold Pressed Sesame Seed Oil
- Sesame Home Cold Pressed Sesame Oil
- Bio Planete Organic Virgin Cold Pressed Sesame Oil
- Topvalu Bestprice Japanese Pure Sesame Oil
- Kuki Pure Black Sesame Oil
- Yamada Seiyu Ichiban Shibori Black Sesame Oil
- CARWARI Organic Extra Virgin Sesame Oil
Five-Star Sesame Powder:
- Shang Lin Hut Black Sesame Powder
- Ma Yu Shan Black Sesame Powder
- Yue Hwa Chinese Products Black Sesame Powder
- Health Time Black Sesame Powder (No Added Sugar)
- Kobebussan Black Sesame Powder
- Long Chi Lam Pure Black Sesame Powder (Canned) 100%
- Hsiang Wei Black Sesame Powder 100% Pure (Cooked)
Five-Star Sesame Paste Tally:
- Sesame House Black Sesame Paste
- macro Certified Organic Unhulled Tahini
- Do Do Black Sesame Paste
Industry and Regulatory Response Mandated
The Council emphasized that while the short-term consumption of these contaminants may not pose immediate health risks, prolonged exposure presents significant concern, especially regarding genotoxic carcinogens. This report serves as a critical notice to manufacturers and regulatory bodies. The high levels of plasticizers and the excess level of glycidol in major brands necessitates urgent action from the Centre for Food Safety to review existing food safety standards and monitor compliance, particularly for imported and locally distributed products.
Consumers are advised to check the full list of test results published in the Choice magazine to make informed purchasing decisions and minimize exposure to these compounds. The findings underscore the need for greater transparency in the food processing chain to ensure the purity and safety of commonly used food ingredients.