Ice-cream mooncake sample detected with coliform bacteria exceeding legal limit

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (August 9) announced that a lychee coconut flavour ice-cream mooncake was found to contain coliform bacteria exceeding the legal limit. Follow-up is in progress.

A spokesman for the CFS said, "The Centre collected the above-mentioned sample from the premises of a frozen confection factory in Chai Wan for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained 130 coliform bacteria per gram, exceeding the legal limit.

"According to the information provided by the manufacturer and our preliminary investigation, the product concerned has not entered the market. The CFS has immediately inspected the production plant of the manufacturer and provided health education on food safety and hygiene for the staff. Thorough cleaning and disinfection has also been carried out in the production plant."

Under the Frozen Confections Regulation (Cap 132AC), each gram of frozen confection for sale should not contain more than 100 coliform bacteria. The maximum penalty for offenders is a fine of $10,000 and three months' imprisonment upon conviction. The fact that the coliform bacteria exceeded the legal limit indicated that the hygienic conditions were unsatisfactory, but did not mean that consumption would lead to food poisoning.

The CFS will continue to follow up on the case and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health.


Ends/Wednesday, August 9, 2017