Two batches of French cow's milk cheese contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (May 29) urged the public not to consume two batches of "Saint Nectaire" cow's milk cheese, imported from France, as the products might have been contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, a pathogen. The trade should also stop using or selling the products concerned immediately.

Details of the products are as follows:

(1) Product name: Saint Nectaire Fermier ( raw cow's milk cheese)
Place of origin: France

(2) Product name: Saint Nectaire Laitier (pasteurised cow's milk cheese)
Place of origin: France

"The Centre received a notification from the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) of the European Commission that the above-mentioned batches of cow's milk cheese were found to have been contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. According to the information provided by the RASFF, the French producer concerned hasinitiated a recall of the affected products and a small volume of the affected products has been imported into Hong Kong," a spokesman for the CFS said.

The CFS has immediately contacted City Super Limited and The House of Fine Foods Limited, the importers concerned in Hong Kong as notified by the RASFF. Information provided by the importers showed that they had only imported Saint Nectaire Fermier (raw cow's milk cheese) but not Saint Nectaire Laitier (pasteurised cow's milk cheese). According to the information provided by The House of Fine Foods Limited, all affected product has been disposed of and has not entered the local market. Information provided by City Super Limited showed that the affected product was being disposed and had not entered the local market. The CFS will continue to follow up the case. For the sake of prudence, the CFS will also alert the trade to the incidents and urge them to stop using or selling the affected batch of products immediately should they have imported and still possess the products.

"Listeria monocytogenes can be easily destroyed by cooking but can survive and multiply at refrigerator temperature. 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 spokesman said.

He urged members of the public to stop consuming the affected batches of products if they have purchased any of them, and to seek medical advice if they feel sick upon consumption.

The CFS will continue to follow up and take appropriate actions.

Ends/Friday, May 29, 2015