Australia's Pauls Thickened Cream detected with unsatisfactory hygienic conditions

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, subsequent to receiving complaints about strange taste while drinking a kind of Pauls Fresh Milk imported from Australia, has been following up on the incident closely, including taking samples of other dairy products from the same brand for testing. The CFS today (September 11) announced that the colony count of a sample of Pauls Thickened Cream was found exceeding the legal limit. Members of the public are urged not to consume the affected batch of product and the trade should also stop using or selling the product concerned immediately.

Details of the product are as follows:

Product name: Pauls Thickened Cream (UHT)
Place of Origin: Australia
Manufacturer: Parmalat Australia Pty Ltd (Address: 842 Wellington Road, Rowville, Victoria 3178, Australia)
Importer: Nowaday International Development Ltd
Packing size: 1 litre
Best before date: November 11, 2015

A spokesman for the CFS said, "A sample of the thickened cream was collected from the warehouse of the importer concerned for testing. Test result showed that the sample contained a colony count of more than 10, exceeding the legal limit. The CFS has informed the importer concerned of the irregularity. According to the information provided by the importer, the import quantity of the affected product was 90 cartons (with a total weight of 1 080 kg) and part of the product has been distributed to local retailers. The CFS has instructed the importer concerned to stop selling and initiate a recall of the affected product, and has marked and sealed all remaining stock. Prosecution will be initiated should there be sufficient evidence."

"The fact that total colony count exceeding the legal limit indicates unsatisfactory hygienic conditions, but does not mean it would lead to food poisoning. However, for the sake of prudence, consumers who have bought the affected batch of product should refrain from eating it. The trade should also stop selling the affected product," the spokesman said.

For enquiries about the product recall, consumers can call the importer's hotline at 2882 2347 during office hours.

The CFS will inform the Australian authorities and the local trade of the incident, continue to trace the distribution of the affected products and monitor the recall of the products concerned.

The CFS will follow up on the incident closely and take appropriate actions, including enhancing the surveillance of the dairy products of the brand concerned.

Ends/Friday, September 11, 2015