Trappist Dairy Hi-calcium Low Fat Milk Drink found with excessive total bacterial count

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (August 28) said that subsequent to the detection of excessive total bacterial count in a sample of Trappist Dairy Fresh Milk last Friday (August 21), the Centre has been following up on the incident closely, including taking follow-up samples in the market for testing, and found a sample of Trappist Dairy Hi-Calcium Low Fat Milk Drink containing total bacterial count exceeding the legal limit. The CFS urged members of the public not to consume the affected batch of the product. The trade should also stop using or selling the product concerned immediately.

Details of the product concerned are as follows:

Product name: Trappist Dairy Hi-Calcium Low Fat Milk Drink
Product size: 236 millilitres
Use by date: August 29, 2015

A CFS spokesman said, "A sample of the milk was collected from 7-Eleven convenience store on ground floor, 34-36 Nullah Road, Mong Kok for testing. Test result showed that the total bacterial count of the sample was 7 800 000 per millilitre. According to the Milk Regulation, milk after heat-treatment by means of pasteurisation should not contain more than 30 000 bacteria per millilitre."

The CFS has informed the vendor concerned of the irregularity and instructed the vendor concerned to stop sale and take the product concerned off shelf. Prosecution will be initiated should there be sufficient evidence. The CFS will also alert the trade to the incident.

"The fact that total bacterial count exceeding the legal limit indicates unsatisfactory hygienic conditions, but does not mean it would lead to food poisoning. Nevertheless, it will be prudent for consumers who have bought the affected product to refrain from drinking it. The trade should also stop selling the affected product," the spokesman said.

"Since the detection of excessive total bacterial count in a sample of Trappist Dairy Fresh Milk last Friday, the CFS has been following up on the incident closely. In view of the above test result, the CFS today has contacted again the manufacturer. According to the information provided by the manufacturer, they cleaned up the production plant on August 23, and the affected batch of the product was produced before the cleansing. However, for the sake of prudence, the CFS has instructed the manufacturer to recall all milk drinks manufactured on or before August 24 (i.e. the use by date on or before September 1, 2015). The manufacturer will also carry out thorough cleaning and disinfection again before resumption of production."

Members of public may call the manufacturer's hotline at 2471 9861 for enquiries.

The CFS will continue to investigate the incident and will closely monitor the products produced by the manufacturer to safeguard food safety and public health.

Ends/Friday, August 28, 2015