The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (November 28) announced that a pineapple flavour ice popsicle sample was found to contain a coliform count exceeding the legal limit. Follow-up is in progress.
A spokesman for the CFS said, "The Centre collected the above-mentioned sample from a premises with a frozen confection factory licence in Kwun Tong for testing under its regular Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained a coliform count of 130 per gram, exceeding the legal limit."
Under the Frozen Confections Regulation (Cap 132 AC), each gram of frozen confection for sale should not contain more than 100 coliform organisms. The maximum penalty for offenders is a fine of $10,000 and three months' imprisonment upon conviction. The fact that the coliform count exceeded the legal limit indicated that the hygienic conditions were unsatisfactory, but did not mean that consumption would lead to food poisoning.
"The CFS has informed the premises concerned of the irregularity and instructed it to stop supplying the affected product immediately. The CFS has also provided health education on food safety and hygiene for the person-in-charge and staff concerned, and requested them to carry out thorough cleaning and disinfection," the spokesman said.
The CFS will follow up on the case closely and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health.
Reprinted from HKSAR Government:
http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201611/28/P2016112800780.htm