Skip to main content

CFS finds Salmonella in prepackaged cut papaya sample

  • 2016.10.24

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (October 24) that a sample of prepackaged cut papaya was found to contain a pathogen, Salmonella. The CFS is following up on the case.

     Product details are as follows:

Product name: Thailand solo papaya
Use-by date: October 13, 2016

     A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS collected the above-mentioned sample at a supermarket in Diamond Hill for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed the presence of Salmonella in 25 grams of the sample, exceeding the standard of the Microbiological Guidelines for Food which states that Salmonella should not be detected in 25 grams of food."

     The spokesman said that the CFS had notified the vendor concerned of the unsatisfactory test result. The CFS has also provided health education on food safety and hygiene to the person-in-charge and staff of the vendor, and requested it to review and improve the food production process and carry out thorough cleaning and disinfection.

     "Salmonella infection may cause fever and gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhoea. The effects on infants, young children, the elderly and patients with a weak immune system could be more severe and may even lead to death," said the spokesman.

     The CFS will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health.

Reprinted from HKSAR Government: 

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201610/24/P2016102400743.htm?fontSize=1