Notification from the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) of the European Commission

Raw goat milk cheese

Product name: Valencay raw milk cheese
Product brand: Anjouin
Place of origin: France
Manufacturer: Fromagerie d'Anjouin
Lot No.: V161
Weight: 220 grams per piece
Best-before date: August 9, 2016

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) received a notification from the RASFF that certain batches of the above-mentioned raw goat milk cheese were found to have been contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli and the French manufacturer concerned has initiated a recall of the affected products. According to the RASFF, some of the products under Lot No. V161 have been imported into Hong Kong.

People can contract Shiga toxin-producing E. coli causing gastro-intestinal disease through consumption of contaminated water or undercooked and contaminated foods. Intestinal bleeding and serious complications such as haemolytic uraemic syndrome may also develop in some people. Moreover, due to poor personal hygiene, person-to-person transmission of this pathogen is possible through an oral-faecal route. Generally speaking, E. coli cannot survive under high temperature and can be killed by thorough cooking.

Based on the information provided by the RASFF, the CFS had followed up with the local importer concerned, Repertoire Culinaire Hong Kong Limited, and learned that a total of 24 pieces (220g per piece) of the affected product had been imported to Hong Kong and 19 of them had been distributed to other vendors. The importer concerned had been notified of the incident by the supplier earlier on and the remaining five pieces of the product had been disposed of. It has also notified the vendors which have bought the affected product to immediately remove from shelves and stop sale of the affected product, and initiated a recall.

The CFS will alert the trade, continue to closely monitor the situation and take appropriate follow-up actions.

Stop using or selling the affected product immediately if having them in possession.

Not to consume the affected batch of the product.

The CFS press release

Members of the public may call the importer's hotline at 3758 2752 during office hours for enquiries about the recall.