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Stella Lee

SOFT drinks maker Vitasoy yesterday announced it is to recall an estimated 30 million drink cartons from Hong Kong and the rest of the world because of continuing production problems.

The company, acting on more complaints about sour-tasting soya milk, is to also suspend production at its Tuen Mun plant.

 Managing director Winston Lo Yau-lai, who last week announced suspension of the company's Shenzhen carton production lines, last night would not rule out industrial sabotage.

 Retailers are being asked to stop sales of all cartons of Vitasoy or Vita drinks including soya milk, lemon tea and juices in 250-millilitre, 375 ml and one-litre packs.

 Customers and retailers would be offered refunds, the company said, although it did not give further details.

 The company estimated that recalling the 15 million packs in circulation in Hong Kong and Macau would take 12 days.

 But it could not say how long it would take to recall a further 15 million packs from more than 10 countries, including Canada, Australia and the United States.

 Yesterday's announcement followed three more complaints from consumers concerning sour soya milk produced at the firm's Tuen Mun plant.

 The company said a full investigation had been launched along with the probe underway in Shenzhen.

 The group decided to recall eight million drinks manufactured in Shenzhen last Thursday after a barrage of complaints.

 A day later, it also recalled 42,000 cartons produced in Tuen Mun.

 Mr Lo said last night the Tuen Mun plant might reopen in two weeks to one month.

 The company promised none of the 1,000 workers at the plant would be affected.

 The recall does not affect the company's bottled products including soya milk, iced teas, distilled water and Vita fresh milk.

 But paper products represent 'a significant proportion' of turnover.

 The firm admitted the latest recall would have a 'material adverse effect' on profits.

Vitasoy International shares will also be suspended from stock market trading from this morning.

 The news comes just as its share price was recovering from the sharp fall caused by last week's announcement of the problems with Hong Kong and Shenzhen production.

 After falling more than eight per cent since Friday, the price yesterday rose five per cent to $3.125.

 Mr Lo rejected claims the announcement had been provoked by Health Department pressure.

 'We both agreed the closing of the plant was the best decision,' Mr Lo said.

 The Government has pledged to closely monitor the recall and investigation.

 The Health Department last night said that preliminary results of laboratory tests on some Vitasoy products showed that of the 240 results received so far, four had been found to have abnormal acidity.

 'While bacteria were found in these four samples, they were not of pathogenic [disease-causing] nature,' a spokesman said. 'Further tests will be conducted to confirm the exact identity of the bacteria.' 



Vitasoy recalls 30 million drink cartons