CFS announces two unsatisfactory bottled fermented bean curd samples

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (January 7) urged the public not to consume two kinds of bottled fermented bean curd which have been contaminated with Bacillus cereus, a pathogen. The trade should also stop selling the affected batches of the products immediately.

Details of the products are as follows:

(1) Product name: Fuzizoue Preserved Tofu (Spicy)
Place of origin: Hong Kong
Package: 463 grams per bottle
Best before date: June 18, 2016

(2) Product name: Pearl River Bridge Chili Fermented Beancurd
Place of origin: China
Package: 325 grams per bottle
Best before date: November 24, 2016
Batch number: SZ 140235

"The Fuzizoue Preserved Tofu sample was collected at a supermarket in Sha Tin for testing under the CFS' regular Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained Bacillus cereus at a level of 1 300 000 per gram. The Pearl River Bridge Chili Fermented Beancurd sample was taken at the office of the importer/distributor of the product in question during the CFS' follow-up investigations into an unsatisfactory sample of the same kind of the product, but from a different batch, announced last month. The test result showed that the sample contained Bacillus cereus at a level of 280 000 per gram," a CFS spokesman said.

According to the "Microbiological Guidelines for Food", it is potentially injurious to health or unfit for human consumption if a gram of ready-to-eat food contains more than 100 000 of Bacillus cereus.

"With regard to the Fuzizoue sample, the CFS will inform the vendor concerned of the test result, instruct the vendor to stop the sale of the affected food as well as trace the source and distribution of the food item in question. The CFS will also liaise with the local manufacturer for more information. Concerning the Pearl River Bridge sample, the CFS will inform the importer/distributor of the test result and instruct it to stop the sale of the affected batch of the product and conduct a recall. The CFS is tracing the distribution of the food item in question," the spokesman said.

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 products, they should stop eating them. They are advised to seek medical advice if they feel sick upon consumption," the spokesman said.

The CFS will alert the trade of the incident, continue to investigate and take appropriate actions accordingly.

Ends/Wednesday, January 7, 2015