Imported frozen confection samples detected with coliform bacteria exceeding legal limit

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (April 15) that samples of a kind of frozen confection imported from Thailand were found to contain coliform bacteria exceeding the legal limit. The affected product has been marked and sealed, and has not entered the market. The CFS is following up on the case.

Product details are as follows:

Product name: Milk Ice (Frozen Confection)
Brand: After You Dessert Cafe
Place of origin: Thailand
Net weight: 1,700 grams
Importer: Skyfair Trading Limited
Use by date: December 8, 2024

A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS collected samples of the above-mentioned frozen confection at the import level for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test results showed that two samples contained 250 and 260 coliform bacteria per gram respectively, exceeding the legal limit."

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

Under the Frozen Confections Regulation (Cap. 132AC), frozen confection for sale should not contain more than 100 coliform 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 count exceeded the legal limit 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 case and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health.

Ends/Monday, April 15, 2024