Not to consume a kind of goat cheese imported from France suspected to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes
| Issue Date | 29.8.2023 |
|---|---|
| Source of Information | The Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) of the European Commission |
| Food Product | Goat cheese |
| Product Name and Description | Product name: PALET DU BERRY Brand: XAVIER Place of origin: France Pack size: 150 grams Lot number: 3288624, 3319239, 3319293 Best-before date: August 10, 2023; August 25, 2023 and August 31, 2023 Importer: GOURMET EN PROVENCE LIMITED |
| Reason For Issuing Alert | The CFS received a notification from the RASFF of the European Commission that the above-mentioned batches of product might have been contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes and are being recalled. 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 newborns. In order to reduce the risk of listeriosis, susceptible populations such as pregnant women should consume freshly prepared hot food where possible, reheat chilled food until it is hot all the way through, and avoid high-risk foods, including ready-to-eat food such as cold cuts, cold smoked seafood, soft cheeses, salads, etc, or cook them thoroughly before consumption, even if they are presented as part of a dish. |
| Action Taken by the Centre for Food Safety | Upon learning of the incident, the CFS immediately contacted the concerned local importer for follow-up. A preliminary investigation found that the above-mentioned importer had imported into Hong Kong the affected batches of the product concerned. The importer concerned has stopped sales, has removed the affected product from shelves and has initiated a recall according to the CFS's instructions. |
| Advice to the Trade | The trade should stop using or selling the affected batch of products immediately if they possess it. |
| Advice to Consumers | Not to consume the affected products if they have bought any. |
| Further Information |
Members of the public may call the hotline of the importer at 3113 1314 during office hours for enquiries about the recall of the product concerned. |
Centre for Food Safety
Food and Environmental Hygiene Department
2023-8-29