Imported prepackaged frozen confection samples detected with total bacterial counts exceeding legal limit

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (August 13) that samples of a kind of prepackaged frozen confection imported from Taiwan were detected with total bacterial counts exceeding the legal limit. The batch of the product concerned has been marked and sealed, and has not entered the market. The CFS is following up on the incident.

Product details are as follows:

Product name: Brown Sugar Boba Frozen Dessert Bar
Brand: SHAOMEI
Place of origin: Taiwan
Net weight: 80 grams
Best-before date: July 26, 2025
Importer: Circle K Convenience Stores (HK) Ltd

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. Test results showed that three samples contained 63 000, 82 000 and 540 000 bacteria per gram respectively, exceeding the legal limit."

"The CFS has informed the importer concerned of the irregularities. An investigation revealed that the affected batch of the product is still stored in the importer's warehouse. It has 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 confections for sale should not contain 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 total bacterial counts 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 incident and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health.

Ends/Tuesday, August 13, 2024