Bottled preserved bean curd contaminated with Bacillus cereus

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (July 6) urged the public not to consume a batch of bottled preserved bean curd which has been contaminated with Bacillus cereus. The trade should also stop selling the affected batch of the product immediately.

Details of the product are as follows:

Product name: Fermented Chili Bean Curd with Sesame Oil
Brand: Ning Chi
Place of origin: Taiwan
Distributor: B & S Company
Best before date: May 30, 2019
Net weight: 140 grams per bottle

"The sample was collected from YATA Department Store, Phase III New Town Plaza, Sha Tin, for testing under the CFS' routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained Bacillus cereus at a level of 470 000 per gram. The CFS has informed the vendor and distributor concerned of the test result, instructed them to stop the sale of the food concerned and initiate a recall, and is tracing the source and distribution of the food item in question," a CFS spokesman said.

Members of the public may call YATA Department Store's hotline at 2694 1111 or distributor B & S Company's hotline at 2790 8772 during office hours for enquiries about the recall.

According to the Microbiological Guidelines for Food, it is potentially injurious to health or unfit for human consumption if a gram of ready-to-eat food contains more than 100 000 of Bacillus cereus.

Bacillus cereus is commonly found in the environment. Unhygienic conditions in food processing and storage may give rise to its growth. Consuming food contaminated with excessive Bacillus cereus may cause gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting and diarrhoea.

"If consumers have bought and still possess the affected batch of the product, they should stop eating it. They should seek medical advice if they feel sick upon consumption," the spokesman added.

The CFS will inform the Taiwan authorities concerned and alert the local trade, continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health. Prosecution will be initiated should there be sufficient evidence. Investigation is ongoing.

Ends/Wednesday, July 6, 2016