CFS urges public not to consume a kind of prepackaged chilled smoked salmon suspected to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (June 30) urged the public not to consume a kind of prepackaged chilled smoked salmon produced in Hong Kong due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, a pathogen. The trade should stop using or selling the affected batches of the product concerned immediately if they possess it.

Product details are as follows:

Product name: Smoked Norwegian Salmon Slices with Dill
Place of origin: Hong Kong
Net weight: 100 grams per pack
Use-by date: All batches on or after June 25, 2022
Distributor: Polyfood Food Service Co. Ltd.

The spokesman said, "The CFS collected the above-mentioned smoked salmon sample from an online shop 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 manufacturer concerned of the test result and instructed it to stop sale and remove from shelves the affected product, and initiate a recall. For enquiries about the recall, members of the public may call the manufacturer at 2898 9962/6366 0067 during office hours.

"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 septicaemia, 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.

The spokesman urged consumers not to consume the affected product if they have bought any. The trade should also stop using or selling the product concerned immediately if they possess it.

The CFS visited the concerned production facilities immediately for investigation and instructed the management to perform cleansing and disinfection. The CFS will alert the trade to the incident, and will continue to follow up and take appropriate action. Investigation is ongoing.

Ends/Thursday, June 30, 2022