The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (September 6) announced that a popsicle sample of mango pomelo coconut cream flavour was found to contain coliform bacteria exceeding the legal limit. Follow-up is in progress.
Details of the product are as follows:
Product: Mango Pomelo Coconut Cream Ice Pop
Product brand: Nice Pops Hong Kong
Manufacturer/packer: Nice Company HK, Limited
Net volume: 82 millilitres
Best-before date: December 23, 2018
A spokesman for the CFS said, "Subsequent to announcing earlier that a honeydew berry sorbet popsicle sample taken from the premises of a frozen confection factory in Ap Lei Chau was found to contain coliform bacteria exceeding the legal limit, the CFS has enhanced surveillance on the products of the premises and has detected from the above-mentioned sample coliform bacteria of 140 per gram, exceeding the legal limit. The results for pathogen tests were satisfactory."
Under the Frozen Confections Regulation (Cap 132AC), frozen confection for sale should not contain more than 100 coliform bacteria per gram. The maximum penalty for offenders is a fine of $10,000 and three months' imprisonment upon conviction. The fact that the coliform bacteria 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 manufacturer concerned of the irregularity and the premises of its factory has temporarily stopped production and sale of all kinds of popsicles according to the CFS' instructions until completion of improvement measures. The CFS has provided health education on food safety and hygiene for the staff of the premises concerned again, and requested them to carry out thorough cleaning and disinfection," the spokesman said.
The CFS will continue to follow up on the case and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health.
Reprinted from HKSAR Government:
http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201809/06/P2018090600710.htm