Hong Kong's Centre for Food Safety has advised people not to eat Robert's American Gourmet Veggie Booty snack food, a product of the United States, suspected to be contaminated with salmonella.

The CFS also appealed to retailers to stop selling the product. This new ban does not seem in any way to be a response to recent American recalls and bans on seafood, toothpaste and tires made in Greater China.

Robert's American Gourmet Veggie Booty food is sold in flexible plastic foil bag in 4-oz, 1-oz and 1/2-oz packages. A CFS spokesman said the U.S. authorities had warned consumers not to eat the product in question.

"Salmonella is a pathogen that may cause gastrointestinal discomfort, such as abdominal pain and diarrhea," the spokesman added. "The CFS will contact the U.S. authorities for further information. We have alerted the trade and are closely monitoring the situation."