CFS urges public not to consume a kind of cheese from Italy with possible Shiga toxin-producing E. coli contamination

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (November 2) urged the public not to consume a kind of cheese imported from Italy due to possible contamination with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). The trade should stop using or selling the product concerned immediately if they possess it.

Details of the product are as follows:

Product name: FONTINA D.O.P.
Place of origin: Italy
Producer: COOPERATIVA PRODUTTORI LATTE E FONTINA SOC. COOP.A.R.L.
Importer: Bravo Fine Foods Limitedand New Food Project Limited
Lot: LOTTO C261
Best-before date: November 19, 2020

A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS received a notification from the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) of the European Commission that the above-mentioned product might have been contaminated with STEC and is being recalled. According to the information provided by the RASFF, the affected product has been imported into Hong Kong. Upon learning of the incident, the CFS immediately contacted local major importers and retailers for follow-up.”

Preliminary investigation found that two local importers, Bravo Fine Foods Limited and New Food Project Limited, had imported some of the affected product into Hong Kong.

The CFS immediately contacted the importers concerned for follow-up. The importers have initiated a recall according to the CFS' instructions. Enquiries about the recall can be made to the hotlines of Bravo Fine Foods Limited and New Food Project Limited at 3528 0348 and 5248 8527 respectively  during office hours.

"People will contract STEC-causing gastro-intestinal disease through consumption of contaminated water or undercooked and contaminated foods. Intestinal bleeding and serious complications such as hemolytic uraemic syndrome may also develop in some people," the spokesman said.

The spokesman urged consumers not to consume the affected batch of the product if they have bought any. The trade should also stop using or selling the product concerned immediately if they possess it.

The CFS will alert the trade to the incident, continue to follow up and take appropriate action. Investigation is ongoing.
 
Ends/Monday, November 2, 2020