Consumers urged not to consume raw goat milk cheese suspected to be contaminated by E. coli

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (July 13) urged the public not to consume a kind of raw goat milk cheese imported from France as it was suspected to be contaminated by Escherichia coli (E. coli). The trade should also stop selling the product concerned immediately.

Product details are as follows:

Product name: Crottins de Chavignol
Place of origin: France
Exporter: Mercure International of Monaco
Lot no: 153 10
Weight: 60 grammes
Best before date: July 28, 2014

A spokesman for the CFS said, "The Centre received notification from the International Food Safety Authorities Network that the kind of raw goat milk cheese was contaminated by E. coli O26 : H11 and the manufacturer concerned in France had initiated a recall of the product. The affected product was imported to Hong Kong on June 16 this year."

He said upon notification, the CFS immediately contacted the importers concerned in Hong Kong, The Dairy Farm Company Limited and City Super Limited, and has instructed them to stop supply of the affected batch of the product.

"The CFS has alerted the trade to the incident and has conducted checks at local major retailers. So far, no affected product was found available for sale. The trade should stop selling the affected product immediately," the spokesman added.

He advised consumers not to consume the affected batch of the product concerned. They should also stop consuming other batches of the product concerned if they are in doubt. People are advised to seek medical advice if they feel sick after consuming the product concerned.

People will contract E. coli causing gastro-intestinal disease through consumption of contaminated water or undercooked and contaminated foods. Intestinal bleeding and serious complications such as hemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) may also develop in some people. Moreover, due to poor personal hygiene, person-to-person transmission of this pathogen is possible through oral-faecal route.

The spokesman said the CFS will continue to closely monitor the situation and take appropriate follow-up actions.

Ends/Sunday, July 13, 2014
Issued at HKT 23:21