CFS urges public not to consume batch of prepackaged smoked salmon contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (April 26) urged the public not to consume a batch of prepackaged smoked salmon which was found to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The trade should also stop using or selling the product concerned immediately should they possess it.

Details of the product are as follows:

Product name: Traditional Smoked Scottish Salmon
Brand: Grants Smokehouse
Manufacturer: MacKnight Ltd
Net weight: 200 grams
Place of origin: United Kingdom
Use-by date: May 16, 2017

The spokesman said, "The CFS collected the above-mentioned smoked salmon sample from YATA Supermarket in Tai Po for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in 25 grams of the sample, exceeding the standard of the Microbiological Guidelines for Food which states that Listeria monocytogenes should not be detected in 25 grams of food."

The spokesman said that the CFS has informed the vendor of the test result and instructed it to stop sale and remove from shelves the affected batch of the product, and initiate a recall. For enquiries about the recall, members of the public may call the vendor at 3761 1388 during office hours.

"Listeria monocytogenes can be easily destroyed by cooking but can survive and multiply at refrigerator temperatures. 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 newborns," the spokesman said.

He urged members of the public to stop consuming the affected product if they had purchased any.

The CFS will inform the trade, continue to follow up on the case and take appropriate action including tracing the source and distribution of the affected food item to safeguard food safety and public health. Investigation is ongoing.

Ends/Wednesday, April 26, 2017