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

A kind of French cheese

Product name: Cheese Brillat Savarin

Brand: Bordier

Place of origin: France

Importer: Classic Fine Foods (Hong Kong) Ltd

Lot No.: 352702, 352203, 352802 and 352803

Best-before dates: April 12 to May 7, 2019

*Updated on 17 April 2019

Product name: Brillat Savarin

Brand: Beillevaire

Place of origin: France

Importer: K-Element Limited

Lot No: 1900307B, 1900437B, 1901105, 1901542B, 1901757, 1901933B, 1902075B, 1902379B, 1902791 and 1903446B

Best-before dates: February 10 to April 21, 2019

• The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) received a notification from the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) of the European Commission that the above-mentioned product might have been contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes and was being recalled. According to the information provided by the RASFF, a local importer, Classic Fine Foods (Hong Kong) Ltd, had imported some of the affected product into Hong Kong.
• The CFS immediately contacted the importer concerned for follow-up. Preliminary investigation found the importer had imported 11 pieces of the affected product and all of them had been distributed. The importer has initiated a recall according to the CFS' instructions.
• Listeria monocytogenes can be easily destroyed by cooking but can survive and multiply at refrigerator temperature. 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 septicaemia, 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.

*Updated on 17 April 2019

• While following up on the incident of cheese imported from France suspected to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the CFS received a notification from the RASFF updating that another local importer, K-Element Limited, had also imported the affected product.
• The CFS' follow-up investigation confirmed that the importer had imported the above-mentioned batches of the affected product and all of them had been distributed. The importer has initiated a recall according to the CFS' instructions.

• The CFS will alert the trade to the incident, and will continue to follow up and take appropriate action. Investigation is ongoing.

• Stop using or selling the affected product immediately if they possess it.

• Not to consume the affected product if they have bought any.

The CFS press release (16 April 2019)

The CFS press release (17 April 2019)

Enquiries about the recall can be made to the importer's hotline at 2612 2066 during office hours.

*Updated on 17 April 2019

Enquiries about the recall can be made to the importer's hotline at 3106 4722 during office hours.