A batch of bottled preserved bean curd contaminated with Bacillus cereus
| Issue Date | 1.4.2015 |
|---|---|
| Source of Information | Centre for Food Safety (CFS) |
| Food Product | Bottled preserved bean curd |
| Product Name and Description | Product name: Giant Tree salted bean curd cubes in brine with chili (with sesame oil) |
| Reason For Issuing Alert | The sample was collected at a supermarket in Yuen Long for testing under the CFS' regular Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained Bacillus cereus at a level of 2 800 000 per gram. 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. 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. |
| Action Taken by the Centre for Food Safety | The CFS has informed the vendor concerned of the test result and has instructed it to stop selling the affected batch of the product. The Centre will also contact the importer/distributor concerned to trace the distribution of the food item in question and instruct it to recall the affected batch of the product. The CFS will inform the Mainland authorities and alert the local trade of the incident, continue to investigate and follow up on the case. Appropriate actions will be taken to safeguard food safety and public health. |
| Advice to the Trade | Stop selling the affected batch of the product immediately. |
| Advice to Consumers | If consumers have bought and still possess the affected batch of the product, they should stop eating it. Medical advice should be sought if they feel sick upon consumption. |
| Further Information |
Centre for Food Safety
Food and Environmental Hygiene Department
2015-4-1