No contaminants found in ‘Scream’ drinks after school sports day tampering scare, police say

No traces of harmful substances were discovered in the sports drinks that triggered a tampering alarm at a secondary school's athletics event, according to police. Videos of liquid emerging from the sides of "Scream" bottles went viral on social media. Ambulances were present at the Hammer Hill Road Sports Ground, where 16 individuals reported feeling unwell, experiencing symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, and dizziness. However, none exhibited signs of poisoning, and all were released after receiving medical care.

The "Scream" beverage is a sports drink manufactured by Nongfu Spring, China's largest packaged drinking water producer and a leading beverage company. A video posted on social media depicted liquid being expelled from a bottle when a student squeezed it. Senior Superintendent Hung Ngai of the East Kowloon Regional Crime Headquarters confirmed at a Wednesday press conference that toxicology tests conducted at the Government Laboratory found no abnormal, toxic, or foreign substances injected into the drinks.

Nongfu Spring's Hong Kong distributor, Uni-China Group, offered an explanation for the incident, stating that the small holes were a standard packaging design. The company said that the water was only trapped between the bottle's surface and the label, and that it understood the school's actions were driven by concern for students.

Uni-China Group emphasized that all products are manufactured under strict monitoring and must adhere to internationally recognized quality and safety standards before leaving the factory. They further stated that the drinks are imported and distributed through regular channels, complying with relevant food safety regulations in Hong Kong, allowing consumers to purchase and consume them with confidence.

The distributor announced a citywide tasting event from October 1 to 4, called "Scream Across Town," offering the public the opportunity to try the sports drink themselves.