Inspectors in Hong Kong charged for stealing food samples

Five inspectors from the Hong Kong Food Safety Center have been charged with stealing food samples.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) recently filed charges against health inspectors at the Center for Food Safety (CFS).

A spokesperson for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said the five employees had been suspended. They are accused of abusing their power by not throwing away unused food samples after they have been properly tested.

The officers, aged between 28 and 37, jointly face one count of conspiracy to steal. They were released on bail, pending their appearance in court to enter pleas.

Details of the costs
The indictment alleges that between May 2022 and March 2023, the five defendants conspired to steal some of the food samples purchased for testing on behalf of CFS.

Defendants are accused of using public funds to purchase food samples worth more than $88,000 (US$11,300) from Hong Kong from five importers to conduct two tests for radiation levels.

CFS is responsible for ensuring that food sold in Hong Kong is safe and fit for consumption. At the time, the five defendants were part of a team in the food import and export department of the risk management department. The department’s duties include conducting tests for radiation levels.

Health inspectors must purchase randomly selected food samples fairly and reasonably priced. One kilogram of each sample is required to perform the test. CFS prohibits agents from intentionally ordering excessive food samples or misappropriating untested samples. After testing, unused food samples should be disposed of at a waste collection point and documented.

An ICAC investigation started after a corruption complaint regarding the purchase of samples. The agency found that the defendants planned to embezzle remaining food samples after testing, failing to follow internal guidelines to dispose of them and ensure proper records were in place. ICAC officers recovered 80 unused food samples including canned abalone, white truffle sauce, crab bisque, Japanese rice and various types of pasta from the defendants’ homes.

The FEHD spokesperson says it attaches great importance to the discipline and behavior of its staff and will not tolerate illegal and fraudulent actions.

The department has taken additional precautions, including refining work guidelines, streamlining procedures and improving the information system for obtaining and recording food samples by the CFS.

ICAC will help the FEHD review relevant procedures and share recommendations for corruption prevention. The ICAC has also provided integrity refresher training to FEHD staff responsible for food testing, reminding them not to use their official position for personal gain.

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