The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (January 15) announced that a soft ice-cream sample was found to contain a total bacterial count and coliform bacteria exceeding the legal limits. Follow-up is in progress.
"Following up on a food complaint, the CFS collected a sample of chocolate flavour soft ice-cream (Product name: Mystery Black) from a light refreshment restaurant in Mong Kok for testing. The test result showed that the sample contained a total bacterial count of 37 million per gram and coliform bacteria of 2 700 per gram, both exceeding the legal limits," a spokesman for the CFS said.
Under the Frozen Confections Regulation (Cap 132AC), each gram of frozen confection for sale should not contain more than 50 000 bacteria or more than 100 coliform bacteria. The maximum penalty for offenders is a fine of $10,000 and three months' imprisonment upon conviction. The fact that the total bacterial count and coliform bacteria exceeded the legal limits indicated that the hygienic conditions were unsatisfactory, but did not mean that consumption would lead to food poisoning.
"The CFS has informed the vendor concerned of the irregularities and instructed it to stop selling all kinds of soft ice-cream immediately. The CFS has also provided health education on food safety and hygiene to the person-in-charge and staff of the vendor concerned, and has requested them to carry out thorough cleaning and disinfection. Should there be sufficient evidence, prosecution will be initiated," the spokesman said.
The CFS will continue to follow up on the case and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health. Investigation is ongoing.
Reprinted from HKSAR Government:
http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201801/15/P2018011500912.htm