Frozen confection sample detected with coliform bacteria count exceeding legal limit

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (May 12) that a sample of frozen confection was found to contain coliform bacteria and its count exceeding the legal limit. The CFS is following up on the incident.

A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS collected the above-mentioned frozen confection sample from a licensed frozen confection factory in Tsim Sha Tsui for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained 240 coliform bacteria per gram, exceeding the legal limit."

"The CFS has informed the frozen confection factory concerned of the irregularity and instructed it to stop selling and to dispose all the affected frozen confection immediately. The CFS has also provided health education on food safety and hygiene to the person-in-charge and staff of the frozen confection factory, who have also been requested to carry out thorough cleaning and disinfection of the premises," the spokesman said.

Under the Frozen Confections Regulation (Cap. 132AC), frozen confection for sale should not contain more than 100 coliform bacteria per gram. The maximum penalty for offenders is a fine of $10,000 and three months' imprisonment upon conviction. The fact that the coliform count 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 incident and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health.

Ends/Tuesday, May 12, 2026