Prepackaged vegetable salad sample detected with Salmonella

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (September 30) announced that a sample of prepackaged vegetable salad imported from Thailand was found to contain a pathogen, Salmonella. The CFS is following up on the case.

Details of the product are as follows:

Product name: Organic Mixed Salad Box+Carrot
Brand name: Natural & Premium Food
Place of origin: Thailand
Distributor: Ceres Resources Ltd
Net weight: 120g per box

A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS collected the above-mentioned sample at YATA Supermarket in Tuen Mun for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed the presence of Salmonella in 25 grams of the sample, exceeding the standard of the Microbiological Guidelines for Food which states that Salmonella should not be detected in 25g of food," a CFS spokesman said.

The spokesman said that the CFS has notified the vendor concerned of the unsatisfactory test result, and instructed it to stop selling the affected product immediately and initiate a recall. Members of the public may call YATA Supermarket's hotline at 2451 3966 during office hours for enquiries about the recall. The CFS is also tracing the distribution of the affected product, and will alert the trade and the Thailand authorities to the incident.

"Salmonella infection may cause fever and gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhoea. The effects on infants, young children, the elderly and patients with a weak immune system could be more severe and sometimes may even lead to death."

He urged members of the public to stop consuming the affected batch of the product if they have purchased it, and to seek medical advice if they feel sick upon consumption.

The CFS will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action.


Ends/Friday, September 30, 2016