CFS announces unsatisfactory bottled fermented bean curd sample

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (December 24) urged the public not to consume a kind of bottled fermented bean curd which has been contaminated with Bacillus cereus. The trade should also stop selling the affected batch of the product immediately.

Details of the product are as follows:

Product name: Pearl River Bridge Chili Fermented Beancurd
Place of origin: China
Package: 325 grammes per bottle
Best before date: September 20, 2016
Place of origin: China
Batch number: SZ140135

"A sample of bottled fermented bean curd was collected at a supermarket in To Kwa Wan for testing under CFS' regular Food Surveillance Programme. Test result showed that the sample contained Bacillus cereus at a level of 760 000 per grammes. According to the 'Microbiological Guidelines for Food', it is potentially injurious to health or unfit for human consumption if a gramme of ready-to-eat food contains more than 100 000 of Bacillus cereus," a CFS spokesman said.

He added that the CFS has taken follow-up actions on the unsatisfactory sample, including informing the vendor concerned of the test result, instructing the vendor to stop the sale of the food concerned as well as tracing the source and distribution of the food item in question. Upon CFS' request, the importer/distributor has stopped the sale of the affected batch of the product and conducted a recall.

Bacillus cereus is commonly found in the environment. Unhygienic conditions in food processing and storage may give rise to its growth. Consuming food contaminated with excessive Bacillus cereus may cause gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting and diarrhoea.

"If consumers have bought and still possess the affected batch of the product, they should stop eating it. They are advised to seek medical advice if they feel sick upon consumption," the spokesman added.

The CFS will inform the Mainland authorities and the local trade, continue to investigate and take appropriate actions.

Ends/Wednesday, December 24, 2014