A kind of chilled raw beef product from US suspected to be contaminated with E. coli (O157:H7)

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (May 30) announced that a kind of chilled raw beef product imported from the United States (US) might have been contaminated with Escherichia coli (E. coli) (O157:H7). Members of the public should stop consuming the product concerned immediately if they have bought it.

Details of the product are as follows:

Product name: US ANGUS PRIME BEEF RIBEYE
Place of origin: US
Packer: Aurora Packing Company, Inc.
Importer: Yata Limited
Use-by-dates: May 7 to 13, 2019

"The CFS, through its Food Incident Surveillance System, noted a notice issued by the US authorities concerned that raw beef products might have been contaminated with E. coli (O157:H7) and are being recalled. Preliminary investigation by the CFS found that the above-mentioned local importer was suspected to have imported the affected product into Hong Kong," a spokesman for the CFS said.
 
The CFS immediately contacted the importer concerned. Follow-up investigation confirmed that the importer had imported around 150 kilograms of the above affected product. All had been sold out at its outlets. The importer has initiated a recall according to the CFS' advice. Enquiries about the recall can be made to the importer's hotline at 2694 1111 during office hours.

"People can contract E. coli through consumption of contaminated water or undercooked and contaminated foods, resulting in gastro-intestinal diseases. Intestinal bleeding and serious complications such as hemolytic uraemic syndrome may also develop in some people. Furthermore, due to poor personal hygiene, person-to-person transmission of this pathogen is possible through the oral-faecal route. E. coli cannot survive under high temperature and can be killed by thorough cooking," a spokesman for the CFS said.

The CFS will continue to monitor the incident and take appropriate follow-up action. Investigation is ongoing.
 
Ends/Thursday, May 30, 2019