Food Alerts / Allergy Alerts - CFS urges public not to consume two batches of cold cuts suspected to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes

CFS urges public not to consume two batches of cold cuts suspected to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes

Issue Date	19.4.2016
Source of Information	The Centre for Food Safety (CFS)
Food Product	Cold cuts
Product Name and Description	(1) Product name: Cold Cut - Chili Product brand: the house of Charcuterie Packer: Hart Limited Best before date: May 3, 2016 (2) Product name: Beef Pastrami Product brand: the house of Charcuterie Packer: Hart Limited Best before date: May 2, 2016
Reason For Issuing Alert	The CFS collected the above-mentioned cold cuts samples at APITA, a supermarket in Quarry Bay for testing under its regular Food Surveillance Programme. The test results showed that both samples contained Listeria monocytogenes. Listeria monocytogenes can be easily destroyed by cooking but can survive and multiply at refrigerator temperatures. 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 septicemia, 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 the newborns.
Action Taken by the Centre for Food Safety	The CFS has informed the supermarket and packer of the products concerned of the test results and instructed them to stop sale and remove from shelves the affected batches of the products and initiate a recall. The CFS is tracing the sources and distribution of the affected products. The CFS will also alert the trade to the incident and urge them to stop using or selling the affected batches of the products immediately should they still possess them. The CFS will continue to closely monitor the situation and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health. Investigation is ongoing.
Advice to the Trade	The trade should stop using or selling the products concerned immediately.
Advice to Consumers	Stop consuming the affected products if any purchased. Consumers should seek medical advice if they feel sick upon consumption.
Further Information	The CFS press release For enquiries about the recall, members of the public may call APITA (2885 0331) and Hart Limited (2557 0988) during office hours.

Centre for Food Safety
Food and Environmental Hygiene Department
2016-4-19

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