CFS urges public not to consume a kind of French cheese suspected to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (February 10) urged the public not to consume a kind of cheese imported from France due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, a pathogen. The trade should stop using or selling the product concerned immediately if they possess it.

Product details are as follows:

Product name: Gaperon cheese
Brand: MonS
Place of origin: France
Importer: FICO INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
Pack size: 400 grams per pack
Batch number: 341
Best-before date: January 30, 2023

"The CFS received a notification from the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed of the European Commission that the above-mentioned batch of the product might have been contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes and is being recalled. A preliminary investigation found that the above-mentioned importer had imported into Hong Kong the affected batch of the product concerned," a spokesman for the CFS said.

The importer concerned has stopped sales, has removed the affected product from shelves and has initiated a recall according to the CFS's instructions. Enquiries about the recall can be made to the importer's hotline at 2850 4799 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 batch of the product if they have bought any. The trade should also stop using or selling the product concerned immediately if they possess it.

The CFS will alert the trade to the incident, and will continue to follow up and take appropriate action. Investigation is ongoing.
 
Ends/Friday, February 10, 2023