Centre for Food Safety (CFS)

Prepackaged frozen peas and vegetables

1.
Product name: TV ORGANIC GREEN PEAS
Product brand: AEON TOPVALU
Place of origin: Japan
Importer: AEON Topvalu (Hong Kong) Co. Ltd.
Lot Number: 4901810005444
Net weight: 250 grams per pack
Best-before dates: June 4, 2017; June 17, 2017

2.
Product name: TV GE MIXED VEGETABLES
Product brand: AEON TOPVALU
Place of origin: Japan
Importer: AEON Topvalu (Hong Kong) Co. Ltd.
Lot Number: 4901810005420
Net weight: 250 grams per pack
Best-before dates: June 14, 2017; June 15, 2017; June 17, 2017; July 4, 2017

The CFS, through its routine Food Incident Surveillance System, has learned from a notice of the State General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine that the above-mentioned prepackaged frozen peas and vegetables are being recalled in Japan as the products might have been contaminated with 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.

The CFS has contacted the Japanese authorities and the Hong Kong importer concerned. According to the information provided by the importer concerned, a total of 330 kilograms of the affected frozen peas and 70 kg of the affected frozen vegetables had been imported to Hong Kong. A small quantity of the products concerned had been supplied to AEON supermarkets for sale. Upon notification from Japan earlier, the vendor concerned has stopped sale and removed from shelves the affected products, and a product recall is underway.

The CFS has uploaded the relevant Food Incident Post to the CFS' website.

The CFS will alert the trade to the incident.

The CFS will continue to closely monitor the situation and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health. Investigation is ongoing.

Stop using or selling the affected batches of the products immediately should you still possess them.

Stop consuming the affected products if you have purchased any.

Seek medical advice if you feel sick upon consumption.

The CFS press release

For enquiries about the recall, members of the public may call AEON's hotline at 2884 6888 during office hours.