Prepackaged Chinese-style soup with suspected pathogen contamination

Subsequent to finding a bottled organic black soybean milk sample with excessive Bacillus cereus, a pathogen, yesterday (July 9), the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (July 10) that a sample of locally produced Chinese-style soup with pork lung, apricot kernel and Chinese ham of the same brand was also detected to contain Bacillus cereus at an excessive level. Members of the public should stop consuming the affected batch of the product.

Product details of the Chinese-style soup are as follows:

Product name: Soup with pork lung, apricot kernel and Chinese ham (by Hung Fook Tong)
Package: 400 grams per pack
Best before date: July 2, 2014
Batch number: SU 22018
Place of origin: Hong Kong

A CFS spokesman said, "Test results showed that the sample of soup with pork lung, apricot kernel and Chinese ham contained Bacillus cereus at a level of 300,000 per gram. This sample, together with the bottled organic black soybean milk sample announced yesterday, were collected on the same day at the retail level for testing during follow-up investigation on a case of removal from shelves of some food products by a local food chain.

"Investigation revealed that both samples were produced within the same week at the same processing plant. The manufacturer indicated that the affected batch of the product had been out of stock and the production of the product concerned had been suspended for the time being."

He added, "The manufacturer concerned was issued with a warning and was ordered to review and improve the production process. The CFS is considering taking out prosecution action based on the test result."

Bacillus cereus is commonly found in the environment and can produce different toxins causing two types of food poisoning. Emetic (causing vomiting) intoxication is caused by a heat-stable toxin pre-formed in food. Improper conditions in food processing and/or storage, for instance leaving the food at room temperature for too long, may give rise to growth of Bacillus cereus as well as production of the aforesaid toxin.

Another type of poisoning is diarrhoeal, which is caused by ingestion of a large amount of Bacillus cereus that can produce toxins in the intestine. Therefore, regardless of whether consumers have reheated the product concerned before consumption, there is potential risk in consuming the affected batch of the product concerned (containing Bacillus cereus at a level of 100,000 or more per gram). Consumers may suffer from gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting and diarrhoea as a result.

Although the Chinese-style soup concerned has expired, the spokesman, for the sake of prudence, urged consumers who still possess the affected batch of the product to stop consuming it. They should seek medical advice if they feel sick after consuming the product concerned.

"The CFS will closely follow up on the case and has taken samples of other products of the same brand for testing. If any food product is found to be contaminated with pathogens, the CFS will take the necessary action to safeguard food safety and public health," the spokesman said.

Ends/Thursday, July 10, 2014
Issued at HKT 16:40