SINGAPORE - A batch of Highway brand canned pork luncheon meat has been recalled after a fragment of a hypodermic needle was found in the product, the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) has said.

The batch of canned food, produced on May 28 last year and expiring on May 27, 2017, has been removed from retailers' shelves.

AVA wrote on Facebook on Friday (Nov 20) afternoon: "We have recently worked with an importer regarding the recall of a batch of 'Highway' brand Pork Luncheon Meat. The recall was initiated because a fragment of a hypodermic needle was found in the affected batch.

"If you have purchased 'Highway' Pork Luncheon Meat with the production date of 28/5/2014, please discard it."

Hock Seng Food said in a statement that the fragment could have been from a needle that broke when the pig was given vaccination shots.

It said that their raw materials go through metal detectors, and their supplier in France has been warned to tighten checks "to eliminate the presence of foreign objects".

The processing and packing plant in China has also added metal detectors as a precaution, the company said.

It assured customers that other batches of the product are not affected.

Apologising for the incident, the firm added that customers who have bought the product can get a refund from them.

"Consumers who has purchased the affected batch, please reach Ms Lim Kailin from Monday to Friday 8.30am - 6pm at 6595 4287 or kailin.lim@hosengroup.com and we will arrange to send a full refund," the statement said.

"Please accept our sincerest apologies for the inconvenience caused," it added.