Food Safety Centre, Macau

Prepackaged fish roe

Product name: Fish roe
Brand: QSeafoods
Importer: Quality Products (HK) Ltd
Net weight: 1000 grams / 35.27 ounces
Manufacturing dates: February 25 and April 12, 2016
Best before dates: February 24 and April 11, 2018

Upon receipt of a notification from the Food Safety Centre, Macau, that the two batches of prepackaged fish roe imported from Hong Kong were contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) immediately contacted the local importer concerned, Quality Products (HK) Ltd. According to information provided by the importer, the affected products were all supplied to distributors in Hong Kong and Macau, with no stock left.

The importer concerned is now recalling the products of the two affected batches and to stop the sale of products of same kind but of different batches.

Listeria monocytogenes can be easily destroyed by cooking but can survive and multiply at refrigerator temperatures. Most healthy individuals do not develop symptoms or only have mild symptoms like fever, muscle pain, headache, nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea when infected. However, severe complications such as septicemia, meningitis or even death may occur in newborns, the elderly and those with a weaker immune system. Although infected pregnant women may just experience mild symptoms generally, the infection of Listeria monocytogenes may cause miscarriage, infant death, preterm birth, or severe infection in the newborns.

The CFS is tracing the distribution of the products concerned. The CFS has also taken samples of products of the same kind but of different batches from the manufacturer for testing.

The CFS will alert the trade of the incident and request them to stop using or selling the affected products.

The CFS will continue to closely monitor the situation and take appropriate follow-up action to safeguard food safety and public health. Investigation is still ongoing.

Stop using or selling the affected products if having them in possession.

Not to consume the affected batches of the products.

Seek medical advice if feeling sick upon consumption.

The CFS press release

For enquiries about the recall of the above-mentioned products, consumers may call the manufacturer (Tel: 2149 5266) during office hours.