A batch of French raw cow's milk cheese contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (May 15) urged the public not to consume a batch of raw cow's milk cheese SAINT NECTAIRE FERMIER imported from France, as the product might have been contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, a pathogen. The trade should also stop using or selling the product concerned immediately.

Details of the product are as follows:

Product name: SAINT NECTAIRE FERMIER
Place of origin: France
Best before date: May 30, 2015

"The Centre received a notification from the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) of the European Commission that the above-mentioned batch of raw cow's milk cheese was found to have been contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. According to the information provided by the RASFF, the French producer concerned has initiated a recall of the affected product and a small volume of the affected product has been imported into Hong Kong," a spokesman for the CFS said.

The CFS has immediately contacted the Hong Kong importer as notified by the RASFF, The House of Fine Foods Ltd, to trace the distribution of the food concerned. According to the information provided by the importer concerned, it had been notified by its supplier earlier on. All affected product (about 1.2 kg) had been disposed of and did not enter the local market.

"Listeria monocytogenes can be easily destroyed by cooking but can survive and multiply at refrigerator temperature. Most healthy individuals do not develop symptoms or only have mild symptoms like fever, muscle pain, headache, nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea when infected. However, severe complications such as septicemia, meningitis or even death may occur in newborns, elderly and those with a weaker immune system. Although infected pregnant women may just experience mild symptoms generally, the infection of Listeria monocytogenes may cause miscarriage, infant death, preterm birth, or severe infection in the newborns," the spokesman said.

He urged members of the public to stop consuming the affected batch of product if they have purchased it, and to seek medical advice if they feel sick upon consumption. The CFS did not receive any reports or complaints of persons feeling unwell after consumption of the product concerned in the past three months.

Furthermore, in relation to the announcement on Wednesday (May 13) that certain batches of five kinds of French goat cheese from raw milk were contaminated with salmonella, further information was received today that the above-mentioned importer, The House of Fine Foods Ltd, had imported one kind of the affected goat cheese, LA TOMME DE CHEVRE ESPELETTE. According to the information provided by the importer, upon notification of its supplier earlier, all affected product (about one kg) had been disposed of and did not enter the local market. Nevertheless, the CFS, for the sake of prudence, urged the public again not to consume the affected product. The trade should also stop using or selling it.

"Salmonella infection may cause fever and gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhoea. The effects on infants, young children, the elderly and patients with a weak immune system could be more severe and sometimes may even lead to death," the spokesman said.

The CFS will alert the trade to the incident, continue to follow up and take appropriate actions.

Ends/Friday, May 15, 2015