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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (May 23) announced that a sample of ice-cream was found to contain coliform organisms exceeding the legal limit. Follow-up is in progress.
A spokesman for the CFS said, "Following up on a food complaint, the CFS collected a sample of ice-cream in chocolate and sweet potato flavour from a retail outlet with a frozen confections permit in Yuen Long for testing. The test result showed that the sample contained 1 100 coliform organisms 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 organisms 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 vendor concerned of the irregularity and instructed it to stop selling the affected ice-cream immediately. The Centre will also provide health education on food safety and hygiene for the person-in-charge and staff of the vendor concerned, and has requested the vendor to carry out thorough cleaning and disinfection. Should there be sufficient evidence, prosecution will be initiated," the spokesman said.
The CFS will follow up on the case closely and take appropriate action including stepping up inspection to the vendor concerned to safeguard food safety and public health.
Ends/Monday, May 23, 2016
Issued at HKT 20:20
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