Imported frozen confection samples detected with coliform bacteria and total bacterial counts exceeding legal limits

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (March 27) that samples of three kinds of frozen confections imported from Taiwan were found to contain coliform bacteria and total bacterial counts exceeding the legal limits. The affected products have been marked and sealed, and have not entered the market. The CFS is following up on the cases.

Product details are as follows: 

Product name: Papaya Milk Ice Bar
Brand: Ms. HoHo
Place of origin: Taiwan
Net weight: 80 grams
Importer: Gainly Enterprise Limited
Manufacturer: Hop Hung Ice Cream Co. Ltd
Best-before date: February 19, 2026

Product name: Watermelon Milk Ice Bar
Brand: Ms. HoHo
Place of origin: Taiwan
Net weight: 80 grams
Importer: Gainly Enterprise Limited
Manufacturer: Hop Hung Ice Cream Co. Ltd
Best-before date: February 19, 2026

Product name: Tiramisu Milk Tea Ice Bar
Brand: Space Between Daily Tea Time By Don't Yell at Me
Place of origin: Taiwan
Net weight: 80 grams
Importer: Gainly Enterprise Limited
Manufacturer: Hop Hung Ice Cream Co. Ltd
Best-before date: February 26, 2026

A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS collected samples of the above-mentioned frozen confections at the import level for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test results showed that five samples of the Papaya Milk Ice Bar contained coliform bacteria ranging between 2 300 and 72 000 per gram, with four of them also detected with total bacterial counts ranging between 52 000 and eight million per gram, whereas five samples of the Watermelon Milk Ice Bar contained coliform bacteria ranging between 660 and 2 600 per gram and total bacterial counts ranging between 73 000 and 100 000 per gram, and five samples of the Tiramisu Milk Tea Ice Bar contained coliform bacteria ranging between 1 800 and 7 800 per gram and total bacterial counts ranging between 110 000 and 190 000 per gram. All are above the legal limits."

"The CFS has informed the importer concerned of the irregularities. The affected products have all been marked and sealed, and have not entered the market. The CFS will temporarily suspend the permission to import for sale of the products concerned granted earlier to the importer," the spokesman said.

Under the Frozen Confections Regulation (Cap. 132AC), frozen confections for sale should not contain more than 100 coliform organisms or more than 50 000 bacteria per gram. The maximum penalty for offenders is a fine of $10,000 and three months' imprisonment upon conviction. The fact that the coliform bacteria and the total bacterial count exceeded the legal limits indicated that the hygienic conditions were unsatisfactory, but did not mean that consumption would lead to food poisoning.

The CFS will continue to follow up on the cases and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health.

Ends/Wednesday, March 27, 2024